POWER prices in August averaged P5.94 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), down by 3 centavos from P5.97 per kWh back in July, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines Inc. (Iemop) said, citing the increase in availability of hydro plants. "Despite increase in demand for August, the available supply is higher for this specific billing period, hence, there is a wider supply margin mainly because the hydropower plants' contribution has increased," said Arjon Valencia, Iemop corporate planning and communications manager. For August, Luzon had an electricity price of P6.24 per kWh, up by around 5.5 percent month on month from 5.92 per kWh in July; in the Visayas, it was P6.93 per kWh in August, down 7.6 percent from P7.50 per kWh; and in Mindanao, P3.37 per kWh for August, a big drop of 27.8 percent from P4.67 per kWh. Overall, the country had 19,718 megawatts (MW) of available power supply for August, up by 4.5 percent from 18,867 MW of supply in July. Of this figure, 13,657 MW were in Luzon, 2,268 MW in the Visayas and 3,794 MW in Mindanao. Total whole electricity demand for August was 14,186 MW, up by 1.4 percent from 13,989 MW in July. Most of the demand came from Luzon with 10,180 MW, followed by Mindanao with 2,025 MW and the Visayas with 1,982 MW.