Residential customers of Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. will see higher electricity bills this month after the utility increased its overall residential rate to P12.30 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the June 2026 billing cycle. This represents a P1.95/kWh increase from May's rate of P10.35/kWh, according to a company advisory.
New rate and impact on consumers
The new rate applies to electricity bills received from June 11 to July 10, 2026, reflecting an increase of nearly 18.8 percent from the previous month. For a typical household consuming 200 kWh per month, the monthly bill would rise to approximately P2,460 from around P2,070 in May, an additional P390 for the same level of consumption.
Reasons for the increase
Davao Light attributed the adjustment to higher prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). “The rate adjustment is attributed to higher prices from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) due to tight power supply conditions brought about by multiple power plant outages,” the utility said in an advisory. The company explained that power supply constraints from outages in several generating facilities pushed electricity prices higher in the spot market, leading to increased generation charges passed on to consumers.
Market fluctuations and NGCP contrast
Davao Light emphasized that electricity rates remain subject to market fluctuations, with generation costs varying based on supply and demand conditions. This increase contrasts with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announcement of a slight reduction in consumers’ electricity bills this June. NGCP reported that its average transmission rate dropped by 9.33 percent, from P1.5983 per kWh in April to P1.4492 per kWh in May, due to decreases in both transmission wheeling and ancillary service rates. Transmission wheeling charges fell by 6.99 percent to P0.5607 per kWh, while ancillary service rates decreased by 10.73 percent to P0.7220 per kWh.
Energy efficiency tips and rate review
In light of the increase, Davao Light encouraged customers to adopt energy-efficient practices to manage expenses, such as switching off unused appliances and maximizing energy-saving measures. The company reminded consumers that power rates are reviewed monthly and may increase or decrease depending on market conditions and the country's power supply situation. A full breakdown of the June 2026 electricity rates is available on Davao Light's official website.
