Iris Gonzales of The Philippine Star reports that the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) "will push through with its significant rate increase-but in three phases, with the biggest hike scheduled for this Christmas season," the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced on Monday (December 9).
The report explained that the ERC approved a three-phase billing scheme for the implementation of the P3.44 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) increase in Meralco's generation charge "to cushion its impact on households." Based on the Meralco and the ERC's agreement, "the P3.44 per kwh hike in the generation charge would be collected in three installments: P2 per kwh this month, P1 in February and 44 centavos per kwh in March."
Meralco earlier announced it is set to hike electricity charges beginning December due to the month-long shutdown of the Malampaya power plants in Palawan for maintenance activities.
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