Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced another drop in electricity rates this January, lowering prices by P0.1637 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
The adjustment brings the overall rate for a typical household to P12.9508 per kWh, down from P13.1145 per kWh in December. For residential customers consuming 200 kWh a month, this means about P33 less on their electricity bill.
Meralco said the continued decline was mainly due to lower transmission charges, which fell by P0.10 per kWh, largely from reduced ancillary service costs charged by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. Generation charges also went down slightly, helped by lower prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and the return to service of the San Buenaventura power plant.
Lower taxes and other charges further pulled down overall rates, offsetting the start of the Green Energy Auction Allowance, a new renewable energy subsidy equivalent to P0.0371 per kWh that took effect this month.
Meralco noted that its distribution charge has remained unchanged since a reduction implemented in August 2022.
Separately, the company warned the public against stealing electrical facilities after a recent incident in Quezon City caused a four-hour power outage affecting nearly 8,000 customers and left a suspect critically injured.
Meralco said it recorded 285 theft incidents in 2025 so far, four of which resulted in injuries, and reminded the public that such acts are punishable under the Anti-Electricity Pilferage Act.
