Power rates in Oriental Mindoro and other missionary areas are set to rise starting November 2025 after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) granted the National Power Corporation’s (NAPOCOR) petition to increase subsidized generation rates, officials said.

Napocor has informed Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO) general manager Humphrey A. Dolor that ERC has approved interim relief in favor of NPC under ERC Case No. 2023-133RC, according to a letter dated September 29, 2025.

Under the new rates, commercial and industrial consumers in large areas will see their Subsidized Approved Generation Rate (SAGR) increase from P7.3900 pesos per kilowatt-hour to P9.2464 pesos per kWh, reflecting a two-tranche adjustment totaling P1.8564 pesos per kWh.

The first tranche of P0.9282 pesos per kWh will take effect in the November 2025 billing period, covering October 26, 2025 to November 25, 2025.

A second tranche of P1.8564 pesos per kWh will follow in Year 2, unless revised or revoked by the ERC.

The rate increases will also affect in Marinduque, Palawan, Busuanga, Catanduanes, Romblon, Tablas, Masbate, Camotes, Siquijor, Bantayan, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.

Typhoon Opong-battered Masbate will see a notable increase, with rates rising from 6.8663 to 8.7227 pesos per kWh.

Areas including Camotes Island in Cebu (hit by the recent earthquake), Siquijor and Bantayan Island (also in Cebu) will see their rates increase from P8.2582 to P9.6980 pesos per kWh, while Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi will see rates rise from P7.0215 to P8.7149 pesos per kWh.

Dolor said on Facebook that the rate increase resulted from the defeat of ORMECO and all members of the Association of Island Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) in their case against NPC’s petition.

“Kung natatandaan niyo po na nagkaroon kami ng signature campaign upang labanan ito subalit iilan lang ang sumuporta na mga mamamayan at mga politiko,” Dolor wrote.

He urged the public not to blame Ormeco for the rate increases, noting that there was little public interest in such issues when the cooperative sought support.

SAGR is a subsidized rate provided to missionary areas (off-grid or not connected to NGCP and are served by NAPOCOR power plants) – these are typically islands and remote locations where power generation costs are higher.

NPC filed the petition to adjust these rates to reflect actual generation costs.

The ERC order was promulgated on September 23, 2025, and NPC has directed distribution utilities and new power providers operating in missionary areas to implement the approved increase.

Electric cooperatives and distribution utilities are required to submit monthly energy consumption reports per customer classification to NPC to ensure accurate accounting of SAGR charges, consistent with submissions to the Department of Energy (DOE) and ERC.

Photos: courtesy of ORMECO