The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced Friday an upward adjustment of P0.3428 per kWh in the July electricity rate, bringing the overall rate for a typical household to P14.8261 from P14.4833 per kWh in June.

For residential customers consuming 200 kWh, this adjustment translates to an increase of P69 in the total electricity bill.

The biggest driver of this month’s rate increase was the generation charge as it went up by P0.1800 per kWh to P9.2504 from P9.0704 per kWh last month, largely owing to higher fuel prices.

Charges of First Gas/Prime CoreGen, which accounted for the most expensive supply this billing period, rose by P0.3613 per kWh to P10.6489 per kWh. This followed the one-month scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas facility starting June 15, 2026 that prompted the Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo plants to use the more expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Charges from post-EPIRA Power Supply Agreements (PSAs), went up by P0.2678 to P8.8694 per kWh due to the impact of the persisting Middle East conflict in the global energy market.

Taxes registered an increase of P0.0960 per kWh. This is primarily due to First Gas/Prime CoreGen’s use of LNG, which is subject to 12 percent value-added tax (VAT), as a result of the unavailability of Malampaya gas, which is VAT-exempt. Meralco