Power Outage Affects Multiple Residents due to Overload
Wipes the slate clean with Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) slashing residential electricity bills from May to July 2025, citing necessary adjustments for customers' financial situations.
During the billing period from May 11 to June 10, the payment rate was trimmed down to Php 8.6885/kWh, dipping from the previous Php 9.5514/kWh in April. This drop in rates can be attributed to reduced power supply costs from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), a market where Davao Light sources a portion of its power demand [1].
The decrease in WESM prices stemmed from an abundance of electricity supply over demand, characterized by fewer plant outages and increased grid-wide supply, despite the dry season boosting demand [1].
The power distributor revealed that the price decrease was intended to help customers manage their electricity bills while encouraging energy conservation. A Facebook post on June 13, 2025, stated, "The rate reduction is due to the lower power supply prices from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, where Davao Light sources part of its power requirement. Even with this lower rate, the power distribution utility encourages customers to practice energy efficiency to keep electricity bills manageable" [4].
Here's a summary of the rate adjustments:- In February 2025, Davao Light implemented a decrease to Php 8.4027/kWh due to a drop in generation charges and a one-time refund granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) [3].- In May 2025, the company further dropped the rate to Php 9.1053/kWh from Php 9.5514/kWh in April [1].
Despite the decrease in electricity bills, Davao Light cautioned customers about expecting automatically lower bills if their electricity consumption increases, particularly during hotter weather when the use of air conditioners and electric fans rises.
To aid customers in lowering their electricity bills while maintaining comfort, Davao Light suggested some energy-saving measures such as turning off unnecessary appliances, using energy-efficient products, and utilizing natural ventilation [2].
On hotter weather days, the use of air conditioners and electric fans may increase electricity consumption, potentially outweighing the benefits of the rate decrease. To help manage electricity bills and stay comfortable, Davao Light recommends turning off unnecessary appliances, using energy-efficient products, and utilizing natural ventilation.
