World · Philippines Bureau
South Cotabato power co-op warns of rate hikes amid El Niño threat
A Mindanao electric cooperative has alerted consumers to brace for potentially higher electricity rates as the El Niño phenomenon threatens to further tighten power supply. The warning comes as several major power plants remain offline, exacerbating an already strained energy situation across the island.
LSN Philippines ·
South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO-I) issued the caution from Koronadal City, citing concerns that dry conditions associated with El Niño could disrupt power generation and drive up costs for consumers in the region. The cooperative pointed to existing vulnerabilities in Mindanao's power infrastructure, where several significant generating facilities have been taken offline, leaving the grid operating at precarious capacity levels.
El Niño-induced weather patterns typically reduce rainfall and water availability, which directly impacts hydroelectric power generation—a key source of electricity in Mindanao. With generation already constrained by plant shutdowns, any further reduction in hydropower output could force reliance on more expensive alternative sources, likely resulting in higher rates passed on to consumers.
The warning underscores mounting pressure on the region's energy sector as it grapples with both structural supply constraints and climate-related vulnerabilities. Consumers and businesses across South Cotabato are advised to prepare for potential rate adjustments as the El Niño effect develops.