BY ERWIN AMBO DELILAN
BEYOND GOOD news, greatness is dawning.
President Bongbong Marcos has finally signed Republic Act 12011, or the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) franchise law on July 26.
The Enrique Razon-led Negros Power is now legally baptized as the new power distributor for the more than 200,000 power consumers in Bacolod and Central Negros.
Though there’s another step to hurdle – the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessities (CPCN) to be processed within the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) – Negros Power can now legally step into Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s (CENECO) operations.
This is valid, said CENECO general manager Arnel Lapore, considering that CPCN is just ministerial in nature.
Negros Power was legally born with a noblest mission – not just to do business but also to conquer lots of challenges to ensure that power distribution in Bacolod and central Negros Occidental must be robust.
To realize this, Negros Power’s top honcho, Roel Castro, said they’re ready to shell out P2 billion to upgrade “anything and everything” in CENECO.
Undoubtable!
A budget of P2 billion? It’s “sisiw” for the Razon Group of Companies.
‘TULISANS’
What I admire most about Castro and/or Negros Power is the promise to put an end to power thieveries within CENECO’s franchise area that includes the localities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago, Murcia and Don Salvador Benidecto.
Castro disclosed that, based on their survey, some 6,000 power consumers of Ceneco are ala “tulisan” (brigands).
These 6,000 are not consumers but power pilferers. They consume electricity via thievery. Pity the more than 19,000 other consumers who pay every month for the tulisans’ loot in disguise of system loss charge.
The inability of CENECO to unmask them and to stop their hanky-panky of stealing electricity via illegal tapping made other consumers’ lives miserable.
Imagine the monthly power consumption of these 6,000 tulisans. Then, the price of their looted electricity is divided among consumers.
Is CENECO the loser? Nope! It’s the power consumers.
Castro underpinned: “The end is near!”
He said these power thieves will only be given amnesty just for one month to apply for their legal connections.
Failure to do so, Negros Power will impose what is needed to be imposed – for sure a bit hasher.
‘DEVILISH’ ACT
Castro vowed to carry out modernized operations in terms of power distribution attuned to the current digitalization era.
This will surely kiss CENECO’s “tiempo kupong-kupong” operations goodbye.
However, let’s bear in mind that this commitment to modernizing the power distribution system in Bacolod and central Negros Occidental is nothing if power thieveries continue to thrive. We will still pay for the system loss.
Good thing to note that Castro is “beyond firm” to crush the “devilish act” of power thieves to ensure everyone of the efficient and effective power distribution.
Fighting the “tulisans” ain’t gonna be easy. But I know Castro. He means what he says – come hell or high water. I can personally attest to that.
And I am sure that he will ace the fight against the “greatest syndicate in town” – the tulisans or kawatans of kuryente.
SOCIETAL CANCER
During the Power 102 Media Workshop Seminar at Seda Hotel -BGC in Taguig, Metro Manila on July 10, Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta stressed system loss charge is one of the problematic aspects in the power industry.
It simply refers to the cost-recovery of power lost due to technical and non-technical system losses.
To simplify, it’s electricity lost and not actually used or consumed by paying consumers.
Shameful, hence!
Bacoleños and Negrenses now hope that with Negros Power, system loss – likened to “Stage 4” societal cancer courtesy of the power tulisans – will be properly “cured”.
Question: Can Castro do it?
The answer is, yes!
He is small but so terrible!/PN
