CUSTOMERS of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will see a second consecutive month of rate relief, with the utility announcing a reduction of ₱0.0409 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for September 2026.
The drop brings the overall rate for a typical residential household down to ₱14.7424 per kWh, compared to ₱14.7833 per kWh in August.
Households consuming 200 kWh per month can expect a reduction of approximately ₱8 in their total bill.
Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga noted that the company hopes the back-to-back decreases offer welcome financial relief to consumers.
The overall reduction was primarily driven by lower ancillary service charges collected by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which fell by ₱0.3344 per kWh due to decreased Reserve Market costs.
Net taxes and other charges also dropped by ₱0.1657 per kWh, aided by the completion of the Malampaya gas facility’s maintenance shutdown, which allowed power plants to switch back to VAT-exempt indigenous natural gas.
These savings successfully offset a ₱0.4232 per kWh hike in generation charges caused by peso depreciation and rising international fuel costs linked to Middle East tensions.
Meralco customers also continue to receive two ongoing refunds totaling ₱1.0139 per kWh for residential accounts.
The power distribution company also highlighted that its own distribution charge has remained unchanged since August 2022.
Parallel to the rate reduction, Meralco has mobilized its social development arm, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), to deliver relief assistance to over 5,000 families affected by heavy rains and flooding caused by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga.
In light of ongoing bad weather, the utility advised the public to prioritize safety by switching off main circuit breakers during floods, keeping away from submerged electrical lines, and ensuring all appliances are thoroughly inspected by licensed electricians before reuse.
Customers can report power issues or track updates via Meralco’s official mobile app, social media channels, or hotlines.
