Long weekends, time for relaxation and enjoyment but come with higher bills

Extended weekends offer working families a chance to unwind and bond at home, but they often bring higher electricity bills due to increased usage of home appliances. In 2023, numerous long weekends were enjoyed by families, thanks to holidays falling on Mondays or Fridays. However, this led to a surge in the use of household appliances, particularly air conditioners, which was noted by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

The heightened reliance on electricity during these breaks affected not only households but also students and professionals returning to in-person classes and on-site work. Consequently, many Filipinos faced higher electricity costs.

Meralco’s 2023 financial report reflected an uptick in electricity demand from residential customers, with cooling appliances playing a significant role in driving up this demand. The company also observed an increase in electricity usage due to warmer weather conditions exacerbated by El Niño.

Moreover, the return to face-to-face arrangements contributed to a rise in power consumption in condominiums and dormitories as Filipinos readjusted to normal learning and work dynamics.

Meralco emphasized the impact of extended weekends on electricity usage in its franchise area, highlighting how these additional days off contributed to heightened residential demand for electricity throughout the year.

According to Meralco, households consumed 17,781 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity from January to December 2023, marking a four percent increase compared to the previous year’s consumption of 17,148 GWh.

News: Long weekends, time for relaxation and enjoyment but come with higher bills