Negros Power, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) subsidiary that operates the power distribution utility in Negros Occidental and Western Visayas, announced a reduction in residential power rates. The average residential electricity rate for May 2026 dropped to P11.3808 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), lower by P0.8655 per kWh from April’s P12.2463 per kWh. The rate decrease is primarily due to lower charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). The WESM fell from P5.8677 per kWh to P5.043 per kWh during the billing period. The decrease in rates is welcome news for consumers as the power industry faces global fuel supply disruptions and rising oil prices.
The power distribution utility announced a reduction in residential power rates driven by lower generation and transmission costs. In an advisory on Saturday, Negros Power said the average residential electricity rate for May dropped to P11.3808 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), lower by P0.8655 per kWh from April’s P12.2463 per kWh.
"This month’s reduction in electricity rates is welcome news for our consumers, especially at a time when many households are still managing rising costs of living," said Negros Power president and CEO Roel Castro. "Our goal is always to ensure that power remains as affordable as possible while maintaining the stability and reliability of our services. ".
Negros Power said the rate reduction was primarily due to lower charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), which fell from P5.8677 per kWh to P5.043 per kWh during the billing period, equivalent to a reduction of P0.8245 per kWh. The WESM charges’ decline was largely influenced by market suspension implemented under Executive Order No. 110, series of 2026, which declared a state of national energy emergency amid global fuel supply disruptions and rising oil prices.
These resulted in an overall decrease of P0.5332 per kWh in generation charges for May, according to Negros Power. Meanwhile, Negros Power’s transmission charges for residential consumers also went down by P0.1506 per kWh, from P1.3657 per kWh in April to P1.2151 per kWh this month.
"Overall, the decrease in electricity rates for May 2026 is primarily driven by lower generation and transmission charges," said Castro
Power Rates Negros Power Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) Global Fuel Supply Disruptions Rising Oil Prices Manila Electric Company (Meralco)
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