MANILA, Philippines — Customers of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will face higher electricity costs this month. The utility giant announced on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, an upward adjustment of 22 centavos per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the February billing cycle, primarily due to increased transmission and missionary electrification charges.
Key Financial Impact The overall rate for a typical residential household has risen to P13.1734 per kWh, compared to P12.9508 per kWh in January.
- Monthly Increase: For a household consuming 200 kWh, this adjustment translates to an estimated P45 increase in their total power bill.
- Fixed Distribution: Meralco noted that its own distribution charge has remained unchanged since August 2022.
Primary Drivers of the Hike
- Transmission Charge: This component saw a significant jump of P0.1975 per kWh. Meralco attributed this to a spike in ancillary service charges from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Reserve Market, alongside higher power delivery service fees.
- Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UCME): The UCME was adjusted upward to 27 centavos per kWh. This fee helps fund power subsidies for remote “off-grid” areas of the country.
Factors Moderating the Increase Despite the hike, the generation charge—the cost of the actual energy purchased—decreased by P0.1073 per kWh, settling at P7.6398 per kWh.
- IPP Savings: Charges from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) dropped by over 80 centavos per kWh, helping to partially offset higher costs from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and Power Supply Agreements (PSAs).
- Supply Mix: Meralco sourced 66% of its power from PSAs, 24% from IPPs, and 10% from the WESM during this period.
Service Area The rate increase affects Meralco’s broad franchise area, which includes Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and selected parts of Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.
While the reduction in generation charges provided some relief, the volatility in transmission-related services continues to be the primary factor driving monthly bill fluctuations for millions of Filipino consumers.