17/05/2024
PRESS RELEASE
17 May 2024
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Electricity consumers in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental are advised of a slight increase in electricity rates for the month of May.
In a press conference held earlier today at the DASURECO Administratorβs Mastery Academy (AMA) Hall, Officer-in-Charge/Corporate Planning Department Manager Engr. Darius D. Roldan said there will be an estimated increase of P0.1303/kWh for the month of May due to generation charges while the distribution charge remains the same since 2012. The rate increase is minimal compared to Luzon and Visayas where power rates have also gone up because of low power supply and greater demand.
He also added that there was an increase in power demand of 8.27% from March 2024 to April 2024 which prompted DASURECO to use its diesel-powered modular generator sets for a short time. βAtong April, nakita nato nga nisaka gβyud siya. Mao pud ni ang panahon nga grabe ang init. Tungod ani, nisaka atong demandβ (βWe observed an increase in demand in April. This coincided with the heatwave, which was the primary reason for the rise in demandβ), Engr. Roldan explained.
Board President Al D. Castillon assured that DASURECO will not experience shortage of power supply anytime soon. βAng atong kooperatiba dili gβyud makasinati og power interruption gawas anang unscheduled because we have 16 megawatts reserved naa sa atong compound. Thatβs why during the drought season, katong naggipit taβg kuryente, ang atong kooperatiba naka-sustain og hatag kay naa man tay sarili,β (βOur cooperative will not experience power interruptions, except for those that are unscheduled, because we have 16 megawatts reserved on our [DASURECO] compound. Thatβs why during the drought season, when we were tight on electricity, our cooperative was able to sustain supply because we have our own resourcesβ), he said.
It can also be recalled that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a Yellow Alert for Mindanao on April 24, 2024 due to forced outage of 9 power plants and 5 others ran on derated capacities. The use of the diesel generators is necessary to sufficiently provide electricity to DASURECOβs consumers amidst the power grid situation. This is the main factor that contributes to the slight increase in generation charges.
For a household consuming 200kWh, it is expected that their power bill will increase from P2,237.78 in April 2024 to P2,263.84 in May 2024 β an increase of P26.06. It is important to note that this projection is based on standard consumption, and the actual bill will vary depending on individual usage patterns.
Compared to Luzon and Visayas, the increase in DASURECO is minimal for this month. An electric distribution utility in Metro Manila has seen a P0.4621/kWh increase. Another in Bohol has increased their rate by a staggering P2.4900/kWh. In Mindanao, a distribution utility has increased their power rate by P1.6254/kWh.
βWala lang pud nagpabaya ang DASURECO tungod aning panghitabo karon nga musaka gβyud na siya. Nangita miβg pamaagi nga mubaba ang presyo pud gihapon ngadto sa kuryente,β (βDASURECO has not neglected the current situation where prices are rising. We are looking for ways to reduce the cost of electricityβ), said Engr. Roldan. He explained that DASURECO has entered into Replacement Power Agreements with other generation companies to mitigate the cost of electricity as well as have a dedicated 24/7 team to monitor and respond to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
WESM is a platform where electricity is bought and sold in real-time, facilitating efficient power distribution and pricing in a competitive marketplace. βSi DASURECO naa gβyud na siyaβy tao nagatanaw pilaβy presyo sa kuryente. Kay kung naa pay mas mubaba pa sa atong kakontrata, palit gβyud ta diha,β (DASURECO has personnel who will monitor the electricity prices. If there are prices lower than those we have contracted, we will purchase from thereβ), he added.
DASURECO reminds its Member-Consumer-Owners that the best way to lessen electricity bill is to conserve and mitigate their use, such as by turning off and unplugging appliances when not in use.
