Power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced on Friday a slight hike in power rates this June.

In an advisory, Meralco said it will implement an increase of ₱0.42 per kilowatt-hour in its overall rate.

The new price adjustments will bring ₱11.9112 per kWh for a typical household, slightly higher as compared to ₱11.4929 per kWh in May.

Households consuming 200 kWh to 500 kWh shall pay the corresponding increase:

• 200kwh - ₱84

• 300kwh - ₱125

• 400kwh - ₱167

• 500kwh - ₱209

In a press briefing, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga explained that the increase was due to the completion of the last Distribution Rate True-Up (DRTU) adjustment which earlier gave ₱1.8009 per kWh refund for residential customers.

“Itong bahagyang pagtaas na ito ay actually na-communicate na namin iyan sa inyo nitong mga nakaraang buwan at I am sure na na-anticipate na sana kasi paulit-ulit po namin itong sinabi na noong nakaraan na asahan na magiging epekto nitong pagtatapos ng implementation ng distribution rate of refund,” he said.

Zaldarriaga said the first DRTU started in March 2021 and ended last December 2022 while the fourth and last DRTU ended in May 2023.

“These refunds benefitted Meralco’s customers over the past two years as these helped temper increases in electricity at a time of financial distress and uncertainty for many,” Meralco Head of Regulatory Management Office Jose Ronald Valles said.