Baguio, Benguet power rates adjusted up anew
>> Thursday, May 5, 2022
BAGUIO CITY --
Power rates being charged by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) from its
member-consumer-owners (MCOs) increased by P0.1758 per kilowatt-hour this April
compared to the previous month following a slight increase in transmission and
systems loss charges.
Based on comparative data of Beneco's power rates, residential consumers were billed P9.5114/kWh this month compared to the P9.3356/kWh that was billed to them by the electric cooperative last month.
Beneco's transmission charge for April is P0.8496/kWh compared to the P0.7615/kWh last month.
Further, industrial rates for this month also increased by P0.2042/kwh from P8.5826/kWh in March to P8.7668/kWh this month while systems loss charge also increased by P0.0341/kWh from P0.5141/kWh in March to P0.5482 in April.
Similar increases were also reported for public buildings' low voltage, streetlights, commercial and public building high voltage because of the upward adjustments.
Despite the significant increase in the prices of coal in the world market which is one of the major components of coal-fired power plants, Beneco's generation charge remains stable at P4.9501/kWh.
Earlier, power industry experts predicted a significant increase in the prevailing power rates of electric cooperatives and private distribution utilities that rely on coal-fired power plants for their power supply following the skyrocketing prices of coal in the world market which reached more than $400 per cubic meter as compared to the average $170 to $230 per cubic meter price at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even with the slight increase in power rates, Beneco remains to be one of the electric cooperatives in the country that charges the cheapest power rates from its consumers and that its power rates are comparable to the charges being collected by private power distribution companies that are even much larger than the said electric cooperative.
Amid the prevailing leadership crisis, Beneco can maintain the charging of cheap power rates from its increasing number of consumers over the past several years.
Beneco was able to also maintain its Class AAA classification which is the highest among the categorization of electric cooperatives in the country despite having to maintain providing cheap and quality power to nonviable areas within its franchise area, particularly in the remote villages of Benguet.
Based on comparative data of Beneco's power rates, residential consumers were billed P9.5114/kWh this month compared to the P9.3356/kWh that was billed to them by the electric cooperative last month.
Beneco's transmission charge for April is P0.8496/kWh compared to the P0.7615/kWh last month.
Further, industrial rates for this month also increased by P0.2042/kwh from P8.5826/kWh in March to P8.7668/kWh this month while systems loss charge also increased by P0.0341/kWh from P0.5141/kWh in March to P0.5482 in April.
Similar increases were also reported for public buildings' low voltage, streetlights, commercial and public building high voltage because of the upward adjustments.
Despite the significant increase in the prices of coal in the world market which is one of the major components of coal-fired power plants, Beneco's generation charge remains stable at P4.9501/kWh.
Earlier, power industry experts predicted a significant increase in the prevailing power rates of electric cooperatives and private distribution utilities that rely on coal-fired power plants for their power supply following the skyrocketing prices of coal in the world market which reached more than $400 per cubic meter as compared to the average $170 to $230 per cubic meter price at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even with the slight increase in power rates, Beneco remains to be one of the electric cooperatives in the country that charges the cheapest power rates from its consumers and that its power rates are comparable to the charges being collected by private power distribution companies that are even much larger than the said electric cooperative.
Amid the prevailing leadership crisis, Beneco can maintain the charging of cheap power rates from its increasing number of consumers over the past several years.
Beneco was able to also maintain its Class AAA classification which is the highest among the categorization of electric cooperatives in the country despite having to maintain providing cheap and quality power to nonviable areas within its franchise area, particularly in the remote villages of Benguet.
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