#IBSpeaks: Of Electricity Rates and P6.38/kWh

• IBSpeaks on electricity bills: Iloilo Bloggers Society members bare their thoughts on Iloilo City’s electricity rate and the shocking P6.38/kWh power rate for the month of September, as promised by More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power Iloilo).

• When MORE Power became an active participant in the trading of electricity (when its Banuyao Switching Station became operational), it enabled the DU to connect to the grid and greatly reduce power costs to its consumers.

The Iloilo Bloggers Society, composed of bloggers based in Iloilo, forms #IBSpeaks, a section in the IBS Digital website sharing the thoughts and opinions of local bloggers on varied topics. In this article, Sheila Mae Gomez of She Mae Gomez, Rosmar Villalon of Iloilo Lifestyle and Features, and Andrea Ortega Guanco of Feature Iloilo bare their thoughts on their electricity bill and the shocking P6.38/kWh power rate for the month of September, as promised by More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power Iloilo).

Ever since MORE Power came into play, Ilonggos have been benefiting from the distribution utilities’ modernization efforts, which include installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance of equipment and facilities; eradication of eyesores and spaghetti wires; aggressive campaign against power pilferage, and more.

One of the DU’s biggest ‘pasabog’ took place sometime in July, with a big drop in power rates. When MORE Power became an active participant in the trading of electricity (when its Banuyao Switching Station became operational), it enabled the DU to connect to the grid and greatly reduce power costs to its consumers.

“Nagbarato sya for July bill. We just have the common appliances like ref, washing machine, fan, lights and gadgets – computer, phones and modem,” states IBS member and pro blogger Sheila Mae Gomez of She Mae Gomez.

Sheila chronicles events in the metro and writes about food. With the ongoing situation, Sheila works from home and hopes to benefit from the adjusted power rates so she can save on her household electricity charges.

Last July residential electricity rates (Php per kWh) went down to P6.4562, a dramatic 36% decrease from its previous P10.014 (June 2021). During this time, Iloilo had the cheapest power rate in major Visayas cities, beating Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) and Visayan Electric Company (VECO).

“Our electricity bill reduced by almost 2,000 pesos. Of course, we are very happy with the big savings. Now, we use our appliances such as aircon and washing machine with dryer frequently without worrying how much our next bill will be. Thank you, More Power,” says Rosmar Villalon of Iloilo Lifestyle and Features.

Rosmar also works from home and also hopes to benefit from the reduced power rates.

Although power rates increased last August (at P7.99/kWh), it went further back to P6.38 for the month of September. The subtle increase was due to the damaged submarine cable of the National Grid Company of the Philippines. Moreover, MORE Power was quick to rectify the issue.

“We experienced a dramatic decreased in our bill, mga P2,000 man. But it increased the next month – understandable because of the submarine cable issue. But looking forward to a better bill the following month, months, even years. Grateful that MORE Power is here and there’s more to look forward to,” says Andrea Ortega Guanco of Feature Iloilo.

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