KALIBO, Aklan – The Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) hopes the impact of the six-month closure of Boracay Island on its member-consumers will be minimized.
Akelco general manager Engineer Alexis Regalado formed a crisis committee tasked to negotiate with four independent power producers (IPPs) for a minimal power rate increase.
Akelco sources its power requirement from these IPPs: Panay Energy Development Corp. (12 megawatts), Panay Power Corp. (4 megawatts), Green Core Geothermal, Inc. (18 megawatts), and Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (8 megawatts).
Regalado said the crisis committee asked the IPPs to adjust the bilateral contract quantity of Akelco by reducing the minimum energy off-take, the hourly reduction proportionate to all the generating companies and the monthly reconciliation.
“Kami ay optimistic na pumayag ang IPPs sa aming pro-rated nomination per day at ang rate impact na lang ay 0.0162 centavos,” Regalado said. “Kapag maging okay ang negotiations at pumayag sila sa terms natin, from P1.5894 to P0.0162 na lang ang increase.”
Akelco supplies energy to 17 towns in Aklan, including Malay where Bortacay is located, and two municipalities in Antique – Pandan and Libertad.
Before the island closure that began on April 26, Akelco warned its member-consumers of higher power rates, like the P1.58 per kilowatt-hour generation charge.
Boracay was expected to reduce 84 percent of its usual electric consumption as business establishments suspend their operations in the island.
In a statement, Akelco said it will incur P17.251-million losses in its distribution, supply and metering revenue due to Boracay closure.
National Electrification Administration administrator Edgardo Masongsong earlier suggested Akelco to talk to its IPPs to adjust its bilateral contracts with them.
“Kapag hindi pumayag ang IPPs na i-withdraw muna, madadagdag ang cost sa mga consumers,” Masongsong said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the government should intervene and look for ways how to save the local electric cooperative while ensuring sufficient power supply in Aklan and Boracay. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)