BACOLOD CITY, June 16 -- The Negros Electric Power Corp. here urged consumers to adopt energy-efficient practices as electricity rates increase across the Visayas this month.

Negros Power, which serves the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, Silay, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental, pegged its average residential rate increase at PHP2.46 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for this month's billing statement issued on or before June 16.

Households will have to pay PHP13.84 per kWh for June consumption, from only PHP11.38 per kWh in May.

In a statement Tuesday, energy sourcing manager Christian John Villena said the situation is not unique to Negros Power, noting that other distribution utilities ...