KNOW YOUR BILL
What each residence is being charged of?
How are they charged?
Electric Bill Components
1. Basic Charge or Generation Charge – This is the cost of supplied power purchased by First Bay Power Corp. (FBPC) from power plant producers (Aboitiz Power Renewables Inc.)
2. Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Composition
- Transmission Charge – This refers to the cost paid to National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the transmission service provider for delivering electricity from power plant at MACBAN to First Bay Power Metering point/substation.
- Supply and Distribution Charge – This refers to the cost paid to First Bay by the end user / consumers for delivering electricity from First Bay Power Corporation’s Substation at Manghinao I to end-users/consumers metering point.
- Metering Charge – This refers to the cost of reading, operating and maintaining power metering facilities including cost of rendering service to customers such as billing, collection, customer assistance and other associated services.
- System Loss – This refers to the cost of electricity loss due to technical and non-technical system losses (transmission line loss, transformer core loss and pilferages with parameters allowed by ERC).
3. Missionary Charge: Small Power Utility Group (SPUG) – is a universal charge to fund the electrification of remote and unviable areas, as well as areas not connected to the transmission system, as mandated under Section 70 of the EPIRA. This cost is paid to government to subside small power utility group like Tingloy Island, Polilio Island and Marinduque.
4. Missionary Charge: Renewable Energy Development (RED) – Cost paid to Government to support the development of renewable energy.
5. Environmental Charge – This is a universal charge that accrues to an environmental fund to be used solely for watershed rehabilitation and management.
6. NPC Stranded Debt – it refers to any unpaid financial obligations of NPC which have not been liquidated by the proceeds from the sales and privatization of NPC assets.
7. Renewable FIT – ALL (Feed-In Tariff Allowance) – FIT-ALL is a uniform charge in PhP/kWh payable by all electricity users that is calculated and set annually. It aims to spur the development of emerging renewable power sources such as wind, solar, run-of-river hydro, and biomass facilities.
8. GRAM and ICERA
- GRAM – stands for Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism. It allows the periodic adjustment to the generation rate to reflect changes in fuel and IPP cost after a review by the ERC before costs are passed on to customers.
- ICERA – stands for Incremental Currency Exchange Rate Adjustment. It is an ERC-approved adjustment mechanism that allows the NPC to more accurately reflect costs affected by foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
9. Subsidy for Senior Citizens – Subsidy to be paid by customers that are not availing of the Senior Citizen Discount or the Lifeline Discount.
10. Senior Citizen Discount (R.A. 9994) – This provides a maximum of 5% discount on the electricity bills of residential accounts registered under the name of a senior citizen which consume not more than 100 kWh a month.
11. Special Senior Citizen Discount (R.A. 9994) – This grants a 50% discount on the electricity bills of senior citizen institutions accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Customer’s Statement of Account

Frequently Asked Questions
One Month Billing Deposit
One month billing deposit is the amount required from customers by distribution utilities of new and/or additional service equivalent to the estimated billing for one month to guarantee payment of bills.
The bill deposit shall be equivalent to the estimated billing for one month based on the load schedule submitted by the consumer. After one year and every year thereafter whenever the actual average monthly bills are more or less than the initial bill deposit, such deposit shall be correspondingly increased or decreased to approximate said billing.
Yes! The bill deposit shall be refunded to the consumers within one month from the termination of service provided all bills have been paid. A customer who has paid his electric bills on or before its due date for three (3) consecutive years may, however demand for the full refund of the deposit even prior to the termination of his service.
Yes. A bill deposit previously refunded to the customer may be reimposed if the customer defaults in the payment of the monthly bill.
Once the bill deposit is reimpose, consumer loses the right to refund the same prior to the termination of electric service.
According to Chapter III Article 28 of Magna Carta, “Failure to pay the required bill deposit shall be a ground for disconnection of electric service.”
BELS did not implement the Rules of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) governing bill deposits.
Senior Citizen Discount
Republic Act 9994, commonly known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”, states that Senior Citizens and Senior Citizen’s Center or Residential Care Facility accredited by DSWD shall be granted a discount in their electric bill.
Qualified Senior Citizens
- Meter must have been registered in the name of the Senior Citizen for not less than one year.
- Monthly residential consumption must not exceed 100 kwh; if the consumption exceeds 100 kwh in any given month, the senior citizen is not entitled to the discount for that particular month.
- Discount shall apply per household regardless of the number of senior citizens residing therein.
Qualified Senior Citizen’s Center/Institution
- Accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and have been in operation for at least six (6) months.
- Government-run or non-stock, non-profit domestic corporations.Organized and operated primarily for the purpose of promoting the well-being of abandoned, neglected, unattached or homeless senior citizens.
- Must have a separate meter for its facilities that are devoted to the care of senior citizens.
For Qualified Senior Citizens
- 5% discount to the monthly electric bill provided that the monthly consumption does not exceed 100 kwh of electricity.
For Senior Citizen Centers/Institution
- 50% discount in monthly charges if registered in DSWD.
- Consumers who are not Senior Citizens
- Senior Citizens who are not qualified for the discount