An official of the Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) announced on Friday that there could be an increase in power rate in the month of June within the franchise area of electric utility firm due to the impact of El Niño.
Fermin Edillon, head of the Davao Light Reputation Enhancement Department, said the hike will reflect in the bill starting June 15, 2024.
Edillon told the media that Davao Light will be posting the rate on Monday.
“Pero klaruhon nako we are saying basin naa’y increase because of the impact of El Niño. Klaruhon nako ang June nato dili tungod kay gaulan na pud for the previous days, pero ginatan-aw nato is the entire 30 days pag compute kung pila ang atong napalit. So, it is still the same, kung naa man increase this is something to do with the impact of El Niño,” he said.
Edillon attributed the rate hike to the decline of the water levels of the hydro plants and the increase in power demand.
He explained that among the components of Davao Light’s power rate include generation, transmission, and distribution.
He said because of El Niño the generating capacity of hydro plants is cheap and those are what Davao Light is sourcing.
“Naga fluctuate ni karon considering naa man ta’y El Niño last May, tungod sa El Niño ang generating capacity sa atoang mga hydro plants. Kaning mga hydro plants barato ni sila nga atong ginakuhaan. Wala mi choice but to get non-renewable energy sources like coal. Kay niubos man ang generating capacity, so wala ta’y makuhaan ug supply mao nang nisaka to more than P1.60 ang atoang increase kay ubos ang generating capacity,” he said.
In January this year, Davao Light’s rate was at P8.81 per kilowatt hour. It increased in February to P9.25.
However, in March power rate dropped to P8.99 then increased in April to P9.13 and in May to P10.76.
“Kung summer months normal nga musaka ang demand, normal pud kung summer months na ang generating capacity sa hydro muubos pero karon medyo grabe kay tungod sa impact sa El Niño,” Edillon said.
Edillon said Davao Light is expecting that by next month the generating capacity will most likely return to normal.
Aside from Davao City, franchise areas of Davao Light cover Panabo City and the municipalities of Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte.
Edillon said Davao Light has a total of 480,000 customers.
Davao Light is encouraging its customers to properly manage their energy consumption.
