IT WAS indeed a lovely month as Iloilo City’s sole power distribution utility, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), shared some welcome news — a decrease of P1.06 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in its electricity rate compared to the previous month.
The residential electricity rate effective February now stands at P11.60/kWh, down from P12.66/kWh in January. This means that households consuming an average of 200 kWh per month can save around P212 on their electricity bills.
This positive adjustment was driven by a significant drop in electricity prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), which fell from P6.46/kWh to P3.40/kWh.
The system loss rate also declined by P0.06/kWh, reflecting lower overall power costs. Fewer outages at generation plants further helped bring rates down, along with reduced demand due to cooler temperatures.
For the record, there was a slight increase of P0.07/kWh in the transmission charge due to the upward movement in the cost of regulated transmission services.
As MORE Power put it in a statement: “More savings mean more reasons to celebrate the season of love! We extend our gratitude for being with us as we continue to power your homes with brighter days and lighter bills in the city and province of Iloilo.”
Of course, we hope that this decrease in power rates will not only continue in the coming months but perhaps even decline further.
And speaking of “brighter days and lighter bills,” the vision of “One Iloilo, One Rate, One Provider” is not merely inevitable — it is already unfolding, as more major establishments migrate to MORE Power from their previous distribution utility.
MORE Power has begun supplying electricity to new areas in Iloilo Province, starting with the Municipality of Pavia and even reaching the University of St. La Salle campus.
A notable milestone was the successful transfer of International Builders Corporation’s (IBC) power source to MORE Electric and Power Corporation. IBC became the first consumer in MORE Power’s extended franchise area to officially shift its electric power line from another distribution utility.
The migration of IBC’s power supply — a historic first in the country — was completed within just a few hours and carried out without delay.
In Jibao-an, Pavia, Iloilo Supermart likewise completed its migration, becoming the first mall in MORE Power’s extended franchise area to transition from its previous distribution utility.
Meanwhile, two more major establishments in Pavia have successfully shifted to MORE Electric and Power Corporation as their new electricity distributor. MORE Power carried out the migration of Panay News and Marlu’s Filipino Asian Restaurant, both based in the municipality.
This transition marked another milestone, with Marlu’s becoming the first restaurant in Pavia to transfer to MORE Power. Panay News also made the switch, becoming the first publishing company in the municipality to migrate to the utility firm.
According to Panay News marketing manager Leah Fajardo: “We are very glad to officially be part of MORE Power, especially with its expansion here in the Municipality of Pavia. When it was reported that Pavia was included in MORE Power’s expansion, we patiently waited for it. To all consumers who wish to avail themselves of the services provided by MORE Power, do not hesitate because its service is already tested and proven. It feels good that we ourselves are now able to experience it.”
The decision to partner with MORE Power reflects Panay News’ commitment to ensuring uninterrupted operations and quality service for its readers and stakeholders. For a media organization, a dependable power supply is crucial to daily operations — from running printing presses to news gathering and reporting activities.
In essence, switching to MORE Power is a strategic move that enhances operational efficiency — a rationale that likely resonates with other establishments making the same transition.
And that, perhaps, says it all./PN
