Ceneco urges consumers to conserve energy amids expected higher rates

Electric consumers under the coverage areas of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) are being urged to conserve energy amids looming rate increase.

“As a result of the hike in the world market fuel prices since last month, increase in electricity rates for the billing month of April 2022 is anticipated,” a Ceneco advisory stated.

Ceneco’s Member-Consumer Integrated Services Division (MCISD) Chief, Unice Pasaylo-Castillon meanwhile said that consumers also said that every 16th of the month is the start of the meter reading period.

That would be the time that the exact amount of anticipated rate increase can be determined, she said.
“On the 14th of the month the Wholesale Electricty Spot Market (WESM) will give us the billing, so on the 16th the rates would be determined,” Castillon added.

Other than the world market’s fuel price hikes, Castillon explained that the rate increase is also due to the maintenance works and shutdown of the Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC), so Ceneco got power from WESM. Most of the power sources under WESM are diesel-powered plants. Ceneco has a power contract with PCPC for its baseload, she added.

In March, residential rate of Ceneco was at P10.9210 per kilowatt hour.*