BENECO CONSUMERS PAY LOWER ELECTRICITY BILLS
DUE TO EARLY PAYMENTS TO POWER SUPPLIERS
By: Laarni S. Ilagan
Consumers of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) continue to pay lower electricity bills due to the “Prompt Payment Discounts (PPD)” enjoyed by BENECO from its power suppliers which are passed on to the consumers.
From April to June 2025, BENECO received the equivalent rate reduction or PPD, after consistently settling its power purchases on or before the 25th of each month. The PPD translated into lower generation charges for consumers in Baguio City and Benguet province.
“The PPD is realized only upon actual payment,” said Ivory Paatan, BENECO rate analyst. “For instance, the discount from the March 2025 bill, paid on April 24, 2025, was reflected in the May billing cycle.”
Under Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Resolution No. 14, Series of 2022, 50% of the PPD and similar discounts obtained by distribution utilities must be returned to consumers.
Consumers who used an average of 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month from April to June received a ₱14.50 reduction in their bills. Those who consumed 100 kWh received a ₱28.99 discount, while 200 kWh users benefited from a ₱57.98 reduction.
BENECO General Manager Melchor Licoben acknowledged the role of consumers in enabling the cooperative to access the discount. “Our member-consumer-owners who pay on time directly contributed to these savings,” he said.
The discount from the June 2025 payment will be reflected in the August billing, Paatan added.**(LSI)
