BACOLOD City – Entering into a joint venture agreement (JVA) is the “best” course of action for Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) to improve its power distribution service, according to Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) committee on energy and public utilities.
The committee held a public consultation yesterday on Ceneco’s JVA with Primelectric Holdings, Inc./Negros Electric Power Corporation.
Primelectric is a sister company of Iloilo City’s sole electric distribution utility MORE Electric and Power Corporation.
Primelectric president Roel Castro was given the chance to explain the JVA and its benefits, and address consumers’ concerns.
Under the JVA, an initial P2 billion will be infused to modernize Ceneco’s ageing and outdated facilities.
This said amount is on top of the P1.7 billion as payment for the purchase of the distribution assets of Ceneco.
The modernization’s aim is to solve frequent power interruptions in Ceneco’s service areas – Bacolod City, Bago City, Talisay City, Silay City, and the Negros Occidental municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
Puentevella also cited Ceneco and Primelectric’s goal to lower systems loss that is currently pegged between P15 million to P20 million monthly.
On top of these, Ceneco and Primelectric under the JVA would endeavor to lower the power rates.
Yesterday’s public consultation was held at the SP’s session hall.
Puentevella said the JVA addresses the consumers’ long-standing concerns and is thus beneficial.
Ceneco has more than 214,000 member-consumers.
Support for the JVA has been snowballing. Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and Cong. Stephen Paduano are among the vocal supporters.
“Consumers have enough of the massive power interruptions happening,” said Ferrer.
Ceneco has been criticized for being inefficient in power distribution and customer service.
“Good service and immediate action to power-related problems are the most important to consumers,” said Ferrer.
Meanwhile, now Iloilo City residents enjoy a more reliable electricity supply, thanks to the state-of-the-art equipment and technologies that MORE Power has introduced.
Power interruptions have been dramatically minimized, consumers are enjoying affordable electricity rates and have started receiving th refund of their bill deposits./PN
