Lower transmission charges pushed Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) power rates down by P0.1637 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in January 2026, the Pangilinan-led utility said Monday.
The cut marks the second straight month of lower rates and reduces the monthly bill of customers consuming 200 kWh by about P33, according to Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga.
“While there were upward pressures on certain cost components this January, overall electricity rates declined,” Zaldarriaga said during a press briefing.
He said the generation charge also fell due to lower prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), citing improved power conditions in the Luzon grid.
The overall rate reduction, however, was partly offset by the implementation of the Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All), which the Energy Regulatory Commission ordered to take effect this month.
GEA-All is an added charge imposed on all on-grid end-users to fully recover investments in renewable energy power plants under the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Auction program.
Zaldarriaga declined to give details on February rates, saying these depend on factors such as generation and transmission costs. He added that January is typically a low-consumption period that usually extends into February.
Asked about capacity for the “summer” months, he said: “We have always ensured that we have adequate capacity coming into our system to make sure that we will be able to supply efficient, reliable and adequate electricity to all our customers.”
Illegal activities
Zaldarriaga also warned the public against stealing Meralco facilities, such as power cables, following a recent incident in Quezon City in which a man was electrocuted while cutting a live power line. The victim suffered severe flashover burns and remains in critical condition.
The incident temporarily disrupted electricity service to nearly 8,000 customers.
Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan Savaet urged the public to stay alert and help prevent such activities to maintain safe and reliable power service.
“This incident underscores the grave dangers of stealing power cables and electrical facilities. Beyond service interruptions, these acts pose life-threatening risks due to the high voltage of Meralco facilities,” Savaet said in the same briefing.
“Any contact with energized facilities can result in severe injury or death.”