The average electricity price at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) declined by 3.9 percent in June, bringing the national rate down to ₱3.86 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from ₱4.01/kWh in May, according to data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP).
This offers potential relief for consumers and energy-intensive businesses alike, as lower spot market prices can eventually translate to reduced electricity bills—particularly for those sourcing power through retail competition or time-of-use schemes.
IEMOP, which released the data on Thursday, has yet to provide a breakdown of the factors behind the overall price reduction. However, the price movement coincided with a drop in both demand and supply across the country. National demand in June slid by 4.1 percent to 14,545 megawatts (MW), while supply dipped by 3.5 percent to 21,432 MW.
Regionally, Luzon saw the sharpest price decline, with average WESM prices falling 7.5 percent to ₱3.91/kWh from ₱4.23/kWh. Demand in the region dropped by 5.4 percent and supply declined by 3.5 percent.
In contrast, Visayas posted a 4.3 percent increase in market prices, reaching ₱3.93/kWh despite both demand and supply slightly easing—down 2.2 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.
Mindanao saw the steepest price increase, with WESM rates jumping 13.2 percent to ₱3.54/kWh from ₱3.11/kWh. This was driven by a 0.7 percent rise in demand alongside a more significant 5.4 percent reduction in supply.
It’s worth noting that IEMOP’s WESM billing period only accounts for data up to the 25th of each month, meaning final monthly averages may adjust slightly once full-month data is considered.
