ELECTRICITY COSTS PROJECTED TO INCREASE NEXT MONTH

Electricity prices in the Philippines may rise by up to P4 per kilowatt-hour next month due to higher summer demand and disruptions from the Middle East war, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman Francis Saturnino Juan said.

The projected increase, based on simulations from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), could more than double February’s average system-wide price of P3.50 per kWh.

Juan noted that the spike in spot market prices may not fully translate to consumer bills, as the impact depends on each utility’s exposure to WESM.

To mitigate potential price surges, the ERC will enforce regulatory safeguards like the secondary price cap while the Department of Energy conducts nationwide audits of government offices to ensure energy-saving measures are followed.

Officials also urged households to use electricity wisely, as government efforts to cut consumption may not directly offset rising costs for consumers.

Source: PhilNews24 | March 13, 2026