Visayan Electric announced a decrease of P0.62 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in electricity bills for May and June.

This reduction lowers the overall residential rate to P11.16 per kWh from last month’s P11.78 per kWh. For a typical household consuming 200 kWh, this translates to a savings of P124.

The power distributor attributed the lower rates to a decrease in the cost of electricity in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), a platform for buying and selling electricity.

Despite the decrease, Visayan Electric senior assistant vice president for Engineering Operations Engr. Mark Anthony Kindica reminded consumers to remain mindful of their energy consumption, especially during the ongoing dry season.

“We are very much still in summer, thus our cooling appliances are using more energy to achieve our desired temperature and this consumes more electricity,” Kindica said. “If we are not mindful of our energy consumption, our bills could soar unexpectedly.”

While Cebu and nearby provinces have experienced occasional rains, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has not yet declared the start of the wet season.

Visayan Electric also cautioned the public about kite flying, which is common during the summer break when children are out of school. The company urged people to avoid flying kites near power lines or electrical facilities to prevent accidents and power interruptions.

They also advised using dry string or kite lines, avoiding metallic or wet materials that can conduct electricity, and choosing open spaces away from roads and electrical infrastructure.