MANILA, Philippines — Customers of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will see a slight increase in their electricity bills this month. The country’s largest power distributor announced on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, a rate hike of 22 centavos per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the February billing cycle.
Impact on Households The adjustment brings the overall electricity rate for a typical household to P13.1734 per kWh, up from P12.9508 per kWh in January.
- Cost Increase: For an average residential customer consuming 200 kWh per month, the hike translates to an additional P44 to P45 in their total bill.
- Service Area: The rate adjustment affects millions of customers across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and parts of Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.
Drivers of the Increase Meralco attributed the uptick primarily to higher transmission charges, which rose by 19.75 centavos per kWh. This was caused by two main factors involving the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP):
- Ancillary Service Charges: A significant increase in costs from the Reserve Market, which ensures the stability and reliability of the power grid.
- Power Delivery Service: Higher charges associated with the physical delivery of electricity from power plants to the distribution system.
Context The hike comes amid ongoing government efforts to find long-term solutions to high electricity costs in the Philippines. While generation charges—the cost of the electricity itself—remained relatively stable, the spike in grid-related service fees remains a primary driver of volatility for monthly bills.
Meralco advises consumers to continue practicing energy-saving measures to mitigate the impact of the rate increase on their household budgets.
