Davao — Electricity consumers nationwide may find some relief in their upcoming June billing statements as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced a significant decrease in transmission charges for the May 2026 billing period. According to the latest data from the grid operator, the overall average transmission rate has fallen by 9.33 percent, sliding down from ₱1.5983 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in April to ₱1.4492 per kWh in May. This reduction is primarily driven by lower costs in two key components: transmission wheeling charges and ancillary service (AS) rates.
Understanding the Rate Decline
The decrease in transmission costs is largely attributed to a 6.99 percent drop in transmission wheeling charges—the fees required to deliver electricity across the national grid—which fell to ₱0.5607 per kWh. Furthermore, ancillary service rates, which fund the reserve power resources essential for maintaining grid stability and preventing blackouts, saw an even steeper decline of 10.73 percent, settling at ₱0.7220 per kWh. The NGCP maintains that these ancillary services are sourced from bilateral contracts and the reserve market, with all associated costs passed on to consumers without any markup, ensuring transparency in line with Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) regulations.
What This Means for Your June Bill
While the transmission component of your bill is set to decrease, the actual impact on your total monthly electric bill will vary depending on other factors such as generation charges, distribution fees, taxes, and universal charges determined by your local utility provider. For instance, in Davao City, consumers are still awaiting a formal advisory from the Davao Light and Power Company to confirm how these transmission savings will be reflected in their specific service areas. As the energy sector navigates ongoing economic fluctuations, this downward adjustment in grid fees offers a modest but welcome reprieve for households and businesses alike, signaling a period of slightly improved cost stability in the power sector for the month of June.
