LEGAZPI CITY— From P17.3035 kilo-watt per hour (kWh) this January 2023, the Casureco 2 power rate is up by P17.8311 per kWh in February, resulting in a P0.52 kWh increase.
“This (the increase in power rate) is mainly due to the rise in coal prices being charged by our power suppliers from USD/MT 303.6930 for the previous billing period to USD/MT 404.0700 for this billing period,” according to Casureco 2 Facebook post.
Currently, Casureco 2’s power rate is priced P6 to P7 per kWh higher than Casureco 1.
Impact to consumers
Sophia Jane “Iyay” Miranda, 23, a resident of Naga City, said the impact of the Casureco 2 price hike was felt by her family.
“Bill po namin is recently umabot (hanggang) P9,000.” sa mga nakaraan naming bill, halos sobra sa kalahati ang itinaas,” Miranda said.
Miranda and her family didn’t believe at first when they received their latest bill as they have been regularly billed in the past months of around Php 2,000. They only use their television set, washing machine, refrigerator, electric fans, and electric lights
“Noong una akala namin nagkamali lamang ang reader ng bill. Kaya nagtanong si Mama kung amin ba talaga iyon. Nang magsilabasan ang mga kapitbahay para mag tanong, doon nagkaroon ng tensyon sa pagitan ng consumer at ng reader (ng kuryente),” Miranda said.
Her mother immediately went to the Casureco 2 main office at Brgy. Del Rosario, Naga City, to verify their bill. “Sabi ng nakausap ni Mama ay iyon daw (talaga) ay (at) hindi nagkamali (ang reader ng kuryente), iyon talaga ang aming bill sa ngayon,” Miranda added.
Miranda and her family cannot do anything but accept the bill and decided to pay the bill gradually.
Similarly, Manolo de los Santos, 30, a resident of Magarao, felt the rise in the power rate.
“Mala (ta) mahal,” de los Santos said when asked about their recent electric bill.
De los Santos said their January bill was only at P2,000. Their recent bill however increased by P500.
With nothing left to do but accept the situation, de los Santos said they just adjusted the use of their home appliances. “Mas nagbabawas paggamit ning ilaw. Dati nagra-rice cooker kami, now dae na. Basta nagbawas kami gamit kuryente,” de los Santos explained.
Meanwhile, Miranda calls for Casureco 2 and the government to take action regarding the power rate hike.
“Sana naman mas mababa ang bill ng kuryente lalo na sa mga provincial area dahil bukod sa mababa ang sweldo, ay mahirap ding mag-budget sa katiting na kinikita dito sa probinsya. Halos minimum wage lamang ang basehan ng sweldo lalo na sa mabababang (mahihirap na) lugar. Kung sa iilang mas nakakaangat (na lugar) ay nahihirapan, paano pa kaya sa (lugar na maraming) naghihikahos sa buhay?” | Arvie Bediones
Photo: CASURECO 2