BACOLOD City — Electricity consumers in the central and southern portions of Negros Occidental are set to enjoy lower power rates in their February billing, as both Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) announced significant reductions in their residential charges.
Negros Power reported that its average residential rate declined to P11.44 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), down by P1.66 from January’s P13.10 per kWh. The reduction is reflected in the February billing cycle, providing much-needed relief to households.
For customers consuming an average of 200 kWh per month, the adjustment translates to savings of about P322 this February.
The company attributed the rate decrease primarily to a sharp drop in generation costs, particularly from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). WESM prices fell from P7.5031 per kWh to P4.4872 per kWh — a substantial P3.0160 per kWh decrease — following the normalization and synchronization of power plants in the Visayas Grid, which improved supply conditions and eased market prices.
Rates from Green Core Geothermal Inc. (GCGI) also declined by P0.3136 per kWh with the implementation of its new 2026 base rate.
Overall, these adjustments resulted in a P1.4199 per kWh reduction in the generation charge, more than offsetting slight increases in the transmission charge from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UCME).
Other February average rates under Negros Power are pegged at P11.50 per kWh for Low Voltage (LV) consumers and P10.41 per kWh for High Voltage (HV) customers.
Meanwhile, NOCECO also announced a downward adjustment. Residential rates dropped to P11.8648 per kWh, lower by P1.0220 from January’s P12.8688 per kWh.
The cooperative said the reduction was likewise driven by lower generation charges due to decreased WESM prices and reduced costs from bilateral power suppliers. NOCECO clarified that its distribution, supply, and metering charges remain stable and unchanged.
While welcoming the decrease, NOCECO management encouraged consumers to continue practicing energy-efficient habits to further maximize savings./PN
