The three distribution utilities (DUs) in Bohol are set to increase power rates for August billing, citing higher costs of power purchased from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
The Bohol Electric Cooperative I and II (BOHECO I and II) and the Bohol Light Company Inc. (BLCI), recently sold by the Capitol to Razon Group for P350 million, will implement the rate hike, which will affect residential and commercial consumers.
According to the DUs, the generation charge, which is the largest component of an electric bill, has increased due to higher costs of power at the WESM.
The generation charge is a pass-through charge that goes directly to power generators, not the DUs.
The rate increases vary among the DUs, with BLCI residential consumers facing a hike from 10.99 pesos per kilowatt hour (kWh) in July to 12.82 pesos per kWh in August.
Commercial consumers will pay 12.47 pesos per kWh, up from 10.69 pesos per kWh.
BOHECO I residential consumers will see their rates increase from 8.47 pesos per kWh to 11.43 pesos per kWh, while low-voltage consumers will pay 10.48 pesos per kWh and high-voltage consumers will pay 8.97 pesos per kWh.
BOHECO II residential consumers will face the largest increase, with rates rising from 10.26 pesos per kWh to 13.96 pesos per kWh.
The DUs have urged consumers to use power wisely and turn off electrical appliances when not in use to mitigate the impact of the rate hike.