By Jed Macapagal

Initial average price of electricity in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the entire country for July decreased, according to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP).

Based on data from IEMOP, the decrease in average spot market power rates were mainly due to lower power demand despite equally lower available supply for the month.

As of July 25, average price per kilowatt hour (kWh) in WESM for the entire Philippines was P5.97 which is 3 percent lower from full month June’s P6.15 per kWh.

IEMOP said  total average demand in the country for the period went down by 4.9 percent to 13,989 megawatts (MW) from 14,710 MW.

Average supply was down 3.9 percent to 18,867 MW from 19,638 MW.

Average price per kWh in the WESM for Luzon is P5.92 per kWh, 0.9 percent lower from full month June’s P5.97 per kWh.

Average WESM price for Visayas was P7.50, which is 12.4 percent less from full month June’s P8.56 per kWh.

Average WESM price per kWh in Mindanao  was  P4.67, higher by 1.3 percent from full month June’s P4.61 per kWh.