Electricity bills are set to reflect a slight uptick this month as transmission-related charges moved higher, driven mainly by adjustments in ancillary service costs.
Power consumers may see a modest increase in their April 2026 electricity bills after transmission rates edged upward for the March 2026 billing period.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the overall equivalent average transmission rate rose by 4.26 percent to P1.7526 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up from February’s P1.6810 per kWh.
A large portion of the increase came from ancillary service (AS) charges, which are pass-through costs paid to power generators that provide backup supply during periods of demand and supply imbalance.
AS rates increased from P0.8275 per kWh in February to P0.8516 per kWh in March.
NGCP clarified that it does not earn from ancillary service charges, stressing that these payments are remitted directly to generation companies with bilateral contracts and to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) for AS sourced from the Reserve Market.
The company also reported a slight rise in its transmission wheeling rate—the fee for delivering electricity through the grid—which increased to P0.7022 per kWh in March from P0.6677 per kWh in February.
NGCP said the adjustment does not affect its income, noting that its allowable revenue is capped by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The grid operator said most of the overall transmission rate continues to come from ancillary service charges.
“As the system operator, NGCP’s priority is to ensure the grid remains resilient during supply-demand imbalances. NGCP does not profit from AS charges, as these are remitted directly to the providers who help us maintain the continuous flow of electricity across the country,” the company said.
Image courtesy of: NGCP
Comments