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High voltage towers that support transmission lines for electrical power distribution in the Luzon grid is seen from a residential area in Baesa, Quezon City on Tuesday, May 9 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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ELECTRICITY-GRID

Alvin Elchico

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Consumers will start feeling the impact of the series of yellow and Rred alerts in the Luzon and Visayas electricity grids in May.</p><p>Several power utilities and cooperatives <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/5/2/electricity-bills-may-be-higher-in-next-due-date-erc-1407" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">have computed increases</a> in the upcoming May billing to consumers.</p><p style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7f6-wmSHI&amp;ab_channel=ANC24%2F7" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:rgb(199, 29, 29);text-decoration:none;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal" target="_blank">ordered the suspension of the WESM</a><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> in Luzon and Visayas when major power grids in the areas are placed on red alert.</span></p><p style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">But it also said that the WESM suspension during Red Alerts will not include the series of price spikes in the Luzon and Visayas spot markets during the Red and Yellow Alerts in April.</p><p>The country&#x27;s largest power utility Meralco said based on preliminary computation, the increase for the coming May 2024 billing will not go beyond P1.00/kwh, which means it will not be staggered and will be implemented in one tranche.</p><p>Meralco Spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said the actual increase in the overall rate will be announced this Friday, May 10.</p><div><strong>COOPERATIVES TOO</strong></div><p>While not all 121 electric  cooperatives will have rate hikes, some with bigger exposure to the spot market will feel the impact of higher prices during the time of yellow and red alerts in the grid last April.</p><p>Among them is Aklan Electric Cooperative or Akelco which covers the whole of Aklan Province including Boracay.</p><p>Akelco General Manager Ariel Gepty said after the P1.49/kwh hike last April, the overall rate will rise by around P5.00/kwh based on preliminary data.</p><div><strong>GET A LOAN FROM LAND BANK</strong></div><p>Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta advises electric cooperatives to avail of the &quot;anti-bill shock loan&quot; from Landbank.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/5/3/due-date-bill-shock-doe-tells-electric-coops-to-spare-consumers-via-landbank-loan-1614" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spare power consumers from due date bill shock with Landbank loan, DOE tells electric coops</a></div><p>The loanable amount will help cooperatives pay the supplier or spot market and allow for a staggered collection from consumers.</p><p>Gepty said Akelco will apply for a loan to minimize the impact on consumers but admitted that eventually everything will be paid for by consumers.</p><p>National Electrification Administration chief Antonio Mariano Almeda has called all electric cooperatives to a meeting this Friday with Landbank officials to discuss their loan options.</p><p>Almeda said the Landbank has set aside an amount that 121 electric coops can avail if they need one.</p><p style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">The ERC has noted that this year is extraordinary, as extreme heat pushed demand up, even surpassing the projected peak demand for the entire summer season.</p><p style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">The Department of Energy also admitted last week that the power situation has reached crisis level. </p><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><br/></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R3G0ZvNtvGo?&amp;t=1sautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong>MAHARLIKA FUND TO MINDORO</strong></div><p>Almeda said the Maharlika Investment Corp has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the National Power Corporation to take over and manage the transmission backbone of Mindoro Islands.</p><p>With a P2.5 billion to P3 billion investment, the Maharlika fund, according to Almeda will fix and upgrade the transmission backbone of the whole Mindoro province.</p><p>When asked if the Maharlika Fund will earn from entering the power sector in Mindoro, Almeda said there is great potential in Mindoro and the backbone operator will earn through wheeling charges, ensuring that its investment is going to bear profit for the Maharlika Investment Corp.</p>

<p>Consumers will start feeling the impact of the series of yellow and Rred alerts in the Luzon and Visayas electricity grids in May.</p>

Consumers will start feeling the impact of the series of yellow and Rred alerts in the Luzon and Visayas electricity grids in May.

Meralco, some electric cooperatives to hike power rates in May

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Meralco, some electric cooperatives to hike power rates in May

Alvin Elchico,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 08, 2024 05:45 PM PHT

Read More:

meralco

electricity

kuryente

electricity price

anti-bill shock loan

Maharlika

power rates

power bills

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