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MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has lowered electricity rates for consumers in Iloilo City for May, even as the Visayas grid continues to face supply constraints, with the utility also ramping up modernization efforts through the launch of the city’s first fully unmanned substation.
The Enrique Razon Jr.-led distribution utility said its residential rate declined to ₱11.8710 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) this month from ₱12.14/kWh in April. Commercial rates also dropped to ₱11/kWh from ₱11.27/kWh previously, offering relief to households and businesses grappling with rising prices of goods and services.
The reduction came despite higher generation costs driven by global fuel market pressures and tight power supply conditions in the Visayas.
Lower Transmission Costs
MORE Power said the lower consumer rates were mainly due to a ₱0.26/kWh reduction in transmission charges. The system loss charge also fell by ₱0.027/kWh, while overall system loss improved to 5.2 percent from 5.37 percent in the previous billing period.
However, generation charges increased by ₱0.05/kWh as global coal prices and freight costs for fuel imports continued to rise amid tensions in the Middle East. Elevated inflation and foreign exchange fluctuations likewise contributed to higher power generation costs.
Prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) also climbed to ₱4.47/kWh, reflecting tighter supply conditions across the grid.
Despite these pressures, MORE Power said it was able to secure lower rates for consumers by sourcing cheaper electricity through bilateral supply contracts.
“We strive to provide our consumers with the best electricity rates despite the challenges we are currently facing,” MORE Power president and chief executive officer Roel Castro said.
“MORE Power remains steadfast in ensuring the welfare of Ilonggos by delivering quality and affordable electricity to every household and establishment,” he added.
Visayas Grid Under Pressure
The rate adjustment came as the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) continued to place the Visayas grid under yellow and red alert status due to insufficient supply reserves.
MORE Power spokesperson Angel Tan said the utility has been closely monitoring NGCP advisories as electricity demand continues to rise during the dry season.
“Our latest advisory is that the demand is very high when compared with the available supply,” Tan said in an interview.
According to NGCP, 12 power plants in the Visayas have been on forced outage between March and May, while 13 other plants have been operating at reduced capacities. These outages and derated operations have rendered about 902.7 megawatts unavailable to the grid.
A red alert status is declared when power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and reserve requirements, while a yellow alert indicates thinning operating margins.
To help stabilize the system, MORE Power said it has been implementing strategic manual load dropping in coordination with NGCP whenever necessary. Tan said the company carefully identifies areas where temporary interruptions would have minimal impact on consumers.
“We identify areas where there is less impact on our consumers. That is the strategic way because we have the capability to lessen the affected consumers,” she said.
She added that one recent round of manual load dropping was implemented in selected commercial establishments following proper coordination and advisories.
MORE Power also appealed to consumers to practice energy conservation measures, especially as high temperatures continue to push electricity demand upward.
Castro urged consumers to be mindful of appliance use during the summer months, warning that higher consumption could still lead to increased power bills despite lower rates.
Smart Grid
Amid ongoing supply challenges, MORE Power has also accelerated efforts to modernize Iloilo City’s power infrastructure.
The company recently launched the city’s first fully unmanned 30-megavolt ampere (MVA) substation, which it described as a major step toward building a digitized “smart” grid capable of supporting Iloilo’s growing economy.
The facility is equipped with an advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system that allows the substation to be remotely operated from a centralized control center.
Engineer Wilmar Gonzaludo, MORE Power’s PSPD manager, said the project was the result of “long and meticulous planning” and a careful assessment of the city’s evolving power requirements.
Through the SCADA system, MORE Power can monitor load flow, voltage levels, and equipment condition in real time, enabling faster response to system disturbances.
The company said automated fault detection capabilities would allow operators to isolate outages and restore electricity within seconds, helping improve overall grid stability and reliability.
MORE Power added that the digital system also supports predictive maintenance and data-driven forecasting to prevent overloads and reduce the risk of service disruptions.
The unmanned setup is also expected to improve worker safety by minimizing the need for personnel to remain in high-voltage environments, although the company said the facility remains secured by on-site guards operating around the clock.
Source:
https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/18/more-power-lowers-may-rates-despite-rising-generation-costs
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1275077
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/987433/more-power-unmanned-substation-iloilo/story