DAVAO Light’s overall residential electricity rate for June increased by P1.95 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), the power distribution utility announced on Friday.
This brings the new rate for June to P12.30 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared to last month’s rate of P10.35/kWh.
Davao Light said the increased rate applies to electricity bills received from June 11 to July 10, 2026.
“The rate adjustment is attributed to the higher prices from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) due to tight power supply conditions brought about by multiple power plant outages,” it said in a press statement.
WESM is one of Davao Light’s supply sources, while 50% is hydropower from NPC Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management, and around 20-30% is coal, which is from Therma South.
The WESM power supply prices drove the increase in the generation charge, which caused the uptick in the overall residential rate for June.
“Due to the power supply deficits we are experiencing nationwide, we expect high electricity bills beginning this month,” Fermin Edillon, Davao Light Reputation Enhancement Department head, said.
He added the condition may continue to the next billing months unless there is an easing in the power generation conditions.
Davao Light explained that it remits payments for the generation charge to the power suppliers; transmission charge to the grid operator; and government-mandated fees to the appropriate state agencies.
Meanwhile, the distribution charge, which has remained unchanged since 2013, goes directly to Davao Light.
“Since rates change monthly, we encourage our customers to continue using electricity mindfully to manage electricity costs better,” Edillon added.
Davao Light recommended checking the estimated daily or monthly energy usage for each appliance by determining the appliance wattage, the average number of hours the household uses it, the number of days the household uses the appliance in a month, and checking the rates.
To calculate the Kilowatt-Hours (kWh), the formula is Wattage / 1000 x Hours Used x Days = Total kWh. To estimate the cost, the total kWh should be multiplied by the rate.
