Meralco Rate per kWh 2026: Latest Monthly Price Updates

As of May 2026, the latest available residential electricity rate announced by Meralco stands at ₱14.3496 per kWh, reflecting the April 2026 billing adjustment.

This came after Meralco implemented an increase of ₱0.5335 per kWh, following an earlier increase of ₱0.6427 per kWh during the March 2026 billing cycle.

For households consuming around 200 kWh monthly, the adjustment translated to an additional charge of approximately ₱107 on their electricity bill. Homes consuming 500 kWh saw increases of about ₱267.

Source: Meralco April 2026 residential rate announcement and utility disclosures.

1. Higher Generation Charges

Generation charges refer to the cost of producing electricity purchased from power suppliers. In April 2026, generation charges rose to ₱8.3864 per kWh from ₱7.8607 per kWh.

The increase was mainly caused by:

• Higher fuel costs
• Peso depreciation against the US dollar
• Increased electricity demand during summer
• Higher charges from WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market)

2. Peso Depreciation

The Philippine Peso weakened significantly during the March supply month, reaching approximately ₱60.748 per US dollar.

Since many power supply agreements are dollar-denominated, fluctuations in exchange rates directly affect electricity costs passed on to consumers.

3. Increased Electricity Demand

Electricity consumption typically rises during the dry season as households use air conditioners, electric fans, and cooling appliances more frequently.

According to Meralco, residential demand may increase between 20% and 33% during hotter months.

Here is a rough estimate of monthly electricity costs based on the April 2026 Meralco residential rate:

If you want a more accurate estimate of your electricity charges, you can use our Meralco Bill Calculator to compute your projected monthly bill based on your consumption.

Your Meralco bill contains several components beyond basic electricity usage:

• Generation Charge – Cost of producing electricity
• Transmission Charge – Cost of delivering power through the grid
• Distribution Charge – Meralco’s distribution service fee
• Taxes and Government Charges – VAT, universal charges, subsidies
• System Loss Charges – Power losses during transmission

Most rate increases in 2026 were driven by generation and transmission-related adjustments.

Starting April 2026, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) implemented a revised national lifeline discount structure.

• Customers consuming 50 kWh or less may receive a 100% discount
• 51–70 kWh consumers may receive a 35% discount
• 71–100 kWh consumers may receive a 20% discount

Qualified beneficiaries typically include marginalized households and 4Ps members.