LED Savings Calculator (Philippines)
How much will you save on your Meralco bill by switching to LED lights, and how fast will they pay for themselves?
Reference date and source in the quick answer · Last updated
Tip: a T8 36W fluorescent tube uses about 36–40W with ballast and can be replaced by an 18W LED tube. A 60W incandescent bulb can be replaced by an 8–9W LED bulb.
Bills before and after are estimated with Meralco's October 2026 residential rates, including the distribution bracket. Dropping to a lower bracket can increase your savings.
Quick answer Lighting energy (kWh) = number of lights × watts × hours per day × 30 ÷ 1,000; your bill before and after is estimated with Meralco rates, so dropping to a lower distribution bracket adds to the savings. A 60W incandescent bulb can be replaced by an 8–9W LED bulb, and a T8 fluorescent tube (36–40W) by a 16–18W LED tube.
Rates: Meralco residential rates, October 2026
How it works
Lighting energy (kWh) = number of lights × watts × hours per day × 30 ÷ 1,000. We add it to your other usage and estimate your bill before and after switching, so a drop to a lower distribution bracket is counted too.
Typical replacements
| Old light | Approx. watts | LED option |
|---|---|---|
| T8 fluorescent tube (4 ft) | 36–40W | LED tube 16–18W |
| Circline fluorescent | 32W | LED ceiling light 15–18W |
| Incandescent bulb | 60W | LED bulb 8–9W |
Worked example — eight T8 tubes to LED
Say you replace 8 T8 fluorescent tubes (36W) with 18W LED tubes, use them 8 hours a day, and the rest of your home uses 160 kWh a month:
- Lighting before: 8 × 36W × 8 h × 30 days ÷ 1,000 = 69.12 kWh.
- Lighting after: 8 × 18W × 8 h × 30 days ÷ 1,000 = 34.56 kWh — 34.56 kWh less each month.
- Bill before: 229.12 kWh in total, in the 201–300 kWh distribution bracket → ₱3,518.61.
- Bill after: 194.56 kWh, back in the 1–200 kWh bracket → ₱2,931.01.
- You save about ₱588 a month, about ₱7,051 a year. If you enter a replacement cost of ₱2,400, it pays back in about 4.1 months.
Multiplying the 34.56 kWh saved by one flat rate (₱14.9439) would give only about ₱516. The rest of the saving comes from dropping below the 200 kWh line, where a lower distribution charge applies to every kWh.
Common mistakes
- Do not include the lights in “Other monthly usage”. If you type your full bill kWh there, the old lights are counted twice and the savings look bigger than they are.
- Fluorescent tubes use a little more than the number printed on the tube because of the ballast; 36–40W is closer to real use for a 36W T8.
- Use the watts of what you actually buy. LED tubes and bulbs of the same size can differ, so check the label before you compare.
- Lights in different rooms are often on for different hours. Run the calculator once per group of lights and add the results.