THE electric distribution utilities in the province have increased the power rates separately and are determined to collect them from their respective area of coverage.
Bohol Electric Cooperative I and II raised their power rates “due to higher cost of electricity purchased from Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM),” according to their respective announcements in the social media.
BOHECO I raises the residential power rates to P11.43/kilowatt-hour effective in August from P8.47/kwh in July, or a difference of P2.96/kwh.
BOHECO II, on the same vein, imposes higher than BOHECO I with P13.96/kwh in August, higher than July’s P10.26, or a difference of P3.70/kwh.
It was not immediately known why the BOHECOs have no uniform power rates imposed on its end-users.
The high rates of the so-called generation rate, transmission rate, systems loss and value-added tax (VAT), which are all considered as monthly variables, are described as “pass-through charges” against the consumers, BOHECO II said in its information to its clientele.
BOHECO II explained that the distribution, supply and metering (DSM) charges amounting to a total of P1.93/kwh is being used for expenses in administrative, operation and maintenance.
DSM is a fixed rate and it could not just be increased without the imprimatur of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), it said.
BOHECO I expounds the following breakdown “to know where your hard-earned money goes:”
POWER GENERATION (₱7.0068): This goes directly to our power suppliers (CEDC, EDC, WESM, Net Metering) for a stable supply of electricity.
TRANSMISSION (₱0.6615): This pays the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for delivering power from power plants to our substations.
SYSTEM LOSS (₱0.4919): This covers unavoidable energy loss during transmission, also paid to power suppliers.
DISTRIBUTION, SUPPLY AND DSM CHARGES (₱1.6109): These charges are the only that go directly to BOHECO I to ensure operational efficiency in providing power to your homes, businesses and essential services.
REINVESTMENT FUND FOR SUSTAINABLE CAPEX (RFSC) (₱0.5232): Although collected by BOHECO I, it is used to invest in critical infrastructure projects like substations that benefit our community’s long-term power reliability and stability.
Both DSM and RFSC charges are regulated by the ERC, which means that BOHECO I cannot adjust them without the ERC approval.
TAXES (₱0.7742): This is the Value Added Tax (VAT) that goes directly to the government.
