Manila, Feb. 11 -- The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will increase power rates in February by PHP0.28 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

This brings the electricity rates for this month to PHP12.0262 per kWh from PHP11.748 per kWh in January.

"For residential customers with a consumption of 200 kWh, this translates to an increase of around PHP57 in their total electricity bill this month," the firm said in a statement.

The increase in this month's power rate is mainly due to higher generation charges, which went up by PHP0.3845 per kWh.

Higher charges from independent power producers (IPP) and power supply agreements (PSAs) have driven the generation rate in February.

Meanwhile, lower rates from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM)...