What Happened to Negros Power’s September Bills?

Some Negros Power customers may have noticed that their September 2026 electricity bills arrived later than usual. Instead of the regular September 16 billing schedule, Negros Power started distributing the bills on September 22, 2026. The six-day delay was related to the implementation of the Secondary Price Cap (SPC) under ERC Order No. 2026-048 MC. Negros Power adjusted its billing schedule to give the company time to update its billing calculations based on the new regulatory requirements.

For customers wondering why their bills came later, here’s what happened.

Why were the Negros Power September bills delayed?

The delay was connected to the implementation of the Secondary Price Cap, a regulatory measure that affects the electricity costs used in billing. Under ERC Order No. 2026-048 MC, the SPC was applied regionally. With this development, Negros Power needed to incorporate the applicable price cap into its billing calculations before releasing the September bills.

The company said the adjustment was necessary to ensure that customers received accurately calculated bills. This also helped prevent overcharging.

In other words, the delayed bill delivery was not a change in the regular meter-reading process. It was mainly to allow time for the new billing calculations to be completed.

Was meter reading also delayed?

The answer is no.

Negros Power kept its regular meter-reading schedule. The change affected the release and delivery of the electricity bills, not the schedule for reading customers’ meters. This distinction is important because receiving a bill later does not mean that the meter reading itself was postponed.

Did the delayed bills also mean later payment deadlines?

Yes.

Because the September bills were delivered later than the usual schedule, Negros Power said it would adjust the payment due dates based on the actual bill delivery date.

This gives customers additional time to settle their bills after receiving them.

Customers should still check their individual electricity bills for the exact payment deadline applicable to their account.

Could the September bills be lower?

The implementation of the Secondary Price Cap could result in lower electricity charges. However, customers should not assume that their individual bill will automatically be reduced by a specific percentage.

Negros Power’s advisory cited an estimated 54% reduction in the average electricity price in the Visayas if the price cap is applied in each region.

That figure refers to the average electricity price, not necessarily the total amount that every household or business will see on its bill. The actual impact will vary depending on the customer and the Distribution Utility, including Negros Power. The final billing calculations were also dependent on settlement information from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP). The advisory identified September 20, 2026 as the scheduled release date of the Final Settlement Bill.

This settlement information would help determine the applicable reduction reflected in the billing calculations.

What should Negros Power customers remember?

The September 2026 billing schedule was different from the usual one.

Here are the key points:

• September bills were distributed beginning September 22, instead of the usual September 16 schedule.
• The six-day adjustment was made to accommodate the implementation of the Secondary Price Cap under ERC Order No. 2026-048 MC.
• Meter reading continued on its regular schedule.
• Payment due dates were adjusted based on the actual bill delivery date.
• The Secondary Price Cap could result in lower electricity charges.
• The cited 54% figure is an estimated reduction in the average electricity price in the Visayas, not a guaranteed reduction in every customer’s total bill.
• The actual amount reflected on each bill depends on the final billing calculations.

For Negros Power customers, the best way to see the actual impact is to compare the September bill with previous months and check the electricity rate and other charges reflected on the statement.