DAVAO CITY (November 5) — Consumers may see higher electricity bills this November as the Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) warned of a possible rate increase following supply disruptions caused by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu last September.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that 27 power plants in the Visayas tripped offline after the quake off Bogo, Cebu, resulting in a 1,444-megawatt capacity loss. While transmission has been restored, the shutdowns have tightened the national power supply.
Davao Light spokesperson Fermin Edillon said the event has affected power generation costs, which could be reflected in November bills.
“One of the triggers for the possible rate hike is the shutdown of several power plants in Cebu after the earthquake,” Edillon said during a press briefing. “These disruptions can push generation costs up.”
He noted that while the increase is not yet certain, factors such as fuel prices, consumption levels, and supply-demand balance could influence rates. Edillon urged households to conserve electricity to manage expenses.
Despite this, consumers enjoyed a ₱1.48 per kilowatt-hour decrease in October, from ₱10.64/kWh in September to ₱9.15/kWh—translating to roughly ₱297 in savings for a 200 kWh household.
The Cebu quake’s ripple effects come just months after Davao also experienced tremors, reminding utilities to stay disaster-ready. Both cities lie along active fault lines, underscoring the link between seismic activity and power reliability.
While yellow alert status has been raised for the Mindanao and Visayas grids through December, NGCP and Davao Light assured the public that supply will remain stable over the holidays.
Davao Light also confirmed plans to pilot a prepaid metering system, similar to those used in Manila and Cebu, as part of its efforts to give consumers more control over their energy use.
“We encourage Dabawenyos to stay energy-conscious even during the festive season,” Edillon said. “Let’s keep our celebrations bright—but also efficient.”
