WESM Spike Hits Provinces Hardest: Davao +₱1.95 in June

2026-07-06 · Philippines · By TipidKuryente Editorial

Bottom line for your bill: A Davao or Iloilo household using 300 kWh paid ₱585–₱612 more in June than in May — from the spot market alone.

May’s yellow and red grid alerts sent Wholesale Electricity Spot Market prices soaring — in Iloilo’s case, WESM prices more than doubled, from ₱4.45 to ₱10.30 per kWh. June bills show who absorbed that and who didn’t:

UtilityJune rateOne-month change
Meralco₱14.48+₱0.15
MORE Power (Iloilo)₱13.91+₱2.04
Davao Light₱12.30+₱1.95
VECO (Cebu)₱13.74+₱0.86

The pattern isn’t random. Meralco buys most of its power under long-term contracts, so spot-market chaos barely dents it. Utilities leaning harder on WESM purchases — common outside Luzon — pass the spike straight through. Same country, same month, wildly different bill shock.

Two takeaways for provincial readers. First, your rate is more volatile than Manila’s, in both directions — Davao’s June rate followed a ₱10.35 May, so some of this is reversion, and July could just as easily fall. Second, volatility itself is an argument for daytime solar self-consumption: power from your roof has no spot market.

All four utilities’ current rates are on the rates tracker, and they’re preset in the appliance electricity calculator if you want your own June damage itemized.

Sources