BACOLOD CITY – Negros Electric and Power Corp. announced recently, that the average residential electricity rate for April 2026 rose to PHP 12.2463 per kilowatt-hour, an increase of PHP 0.8356 from the March 2026 rate of PHP 11.4107 per kWh.
The utility attributed the increase mainly to higher power supply costs and increased transmission-related charges affecting consumers in the Visayas.
Negros Power said prices from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market increased due to the unexpected shutdown of some power plants, which resulted in reduced electricity supply across the region.
“When supply is low—especially during peak hours—prices tend to rise,” Negros Power said.
Supply from another power provider also resumed, and combined with higher market prices, this contributed to the overall increase in generation costs, the utility added.
Transmission-related charges also went up, as fees for maintaining and stabilizing the power grid—known as ancillary services—increased, adding to the overall bill.
Aside from residential customers, other consumer categories also saw rate adjustments. Low-voltage customers will now pay PHP 12.5389 per kWh, while high-voltage customers will be charged PHP 11.1646 per kWh.
The rate increase comes as the Visayas grid continues to face structural supply challenges. The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines issued a yellow alert over the Visayas grid on April 16, the same day Negros Power released its rate advisory, after forced outages at several power plants reduced available capacity across the region.
The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities had warned ahead of the dry season that the Visayas grid remains the most vulnerable among the country’s three major grids because of its dependence on power imports from Luzon and Mindanao via the high-voltage direct current interconnection.
In March, system-wide WESM prices jumped 23 percent due to tighter supply margins, plant outages, and transmission constraints that limited the flow of cheaper electricity into the Visayas.
Negros Power emphasized that the rate adjustments are driven by market conditions and industry-related charges that are beyond the control of distribution utilities.
The company said it does not set these costs, as they are pass-through charges based on supply conditions and grid-related expenses. It reiterated its commitment to keeping consumers informed about electricity rate movements. (news/photo by NegPower via tdg)