BY MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) sees nothing wrong with buying electricity from Energreen Power Development and Management, Inc. (Energreen) at a much higher price – P12.44 per kilowatt hour.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on communications and energy, however, appeared unconvinced during a public hearing on the Ceneco-Energreen power purchase agreement.
Other suppliers sell power to Ceneco at a much lower price, one even at P5 per kilowatt hour, said Councilor Alex Paglumotan, committee chairman.
Ceneco currently sources power from Kepco, Palinpinon geothermal power plant and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. It also buys power from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.
But Ceneco said the contracts with its current suppliers will end this December, and it cannot guarantee of getting power from them again next year for the same rate it is paying now.
Paglumotan said Ceneco told him there could an increase of between P.40 to P.50 every month.
Energreen is constructing a diesel power plant in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City. It aims to produce 18.9 megawatts of power for Ceneco.
It will start operating this December.
Ceneco’s coverage area includes the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Bago, and the town of Murcia.
The electric cooperative recently signed a 15-year contract with Energreen. It will take effect this December.
Paglumotan urged consumers to be aware of Ceneco’s deal with Energreen, and even with the effects of power producer’s plant to public health.
During the public hearing on Sept. 1, this concern was also tackled, said the city councilor.
The sector most concerned was the church, represented by Fr. Ernie Larida, director of the Diocese of Bacolod’s Social Action Center.
The Freedom from Debt Coalition, a consumers’ organization, also voiced its concern.
Representatives of Energreen led by Manny Canto assured those in attendance that they have secured an Environment Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
A lawyer who asked for anonymity previously said the selling price of Energreen was “very disadvantageous” to consumers.
“Energreen’s plant is located in Negros Occidental, thus we expect its power to cost less compared to those of other power producers,” the lawyer said.
At the public hearing, Ceneco was represented by its general manager, Sulpicio Lagarde Jr., and board members Mike Maravilla, Zenaida Lacson and Roberto Montelibano./PN
