ILOILO – Three electric cooperatives (ECs) in this province appealed to their members-consumers-owners (MCOs) to give them time to improve their services.
In Friday’s joint press conference, the Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO) 1, 2 and 3 spelled out their almost common short-term and long-term plans to lower electricity cost.
“Give us time kay panabaon namon ang taripa ka kuryente,” said Engineer Jose Redmond Eric Roquios, general manager of ILECO 2.
Consumers here are seeking cheaper power and a few Sangguniang Bayans have echoed their sentiments. ILECO 1, 2 and 3 are taking this as a challenge to improve their services.
ILECO 1 president Larry Nacionales said they understand the mandate of local officials, especially in carrying the appeal of their constituents.
“Napasalamatan namon ‘na,” said Nacionales.
ILECO’s short-term plan to lower the rate included sourcing supply from Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), a government-owned and controlled corporation and also one of MORE Electric and Power Corp.’s (MORE Power) power sources for Iloilo City.
Having PSALM will also mitigate their big exposure to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
In fact, Roquios said, ILECO 2 already started sourcing out power from PSALM beginning August 2021 until July 2022.
“Makita ang significant increase sa rate next month, October,” Roquios said.
ILECO 2 serves the following municipalities: Pototan, Mina, Dueñas, Dingle, Passi City, San Enrique, Calinog, Bingawan, Lambunao, Janiuay, Badiangan, Zarraga, New Lucena, Barotac Nuevo, and Dumangas.
Meanwhile, entering into a competitive selection process to get a cheaper rate is ILECO’s long-term plan.
In the municipality of Pavia, one of the service areas of ILECO 1, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) is exploring the possibility that the power distributor in adjacent Iloilo City extend its operation to the municipality so that Pavianhons could enjoy cheaper electricity.
Other areas being served by ILECO 1 were San Joaquin, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Miag-ao, Igbaras, Guimbal, Alimodian, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Leon, Leganes, Cabatuan, and Maasin.
ILECO III, meanwhile, covers 13 municipalities: Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Ajuy, Concepcion, Lemery, San Dionisio, Sara, Balasan, Batad, Carles, and Estancia.
HIGH GENERATION CHARGES
In a statement, Region 6 ECs said they are greatly affected by the high electricity market price which resulted to the increase of electricity rates from June 2021 to present.
These were composed of the Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO), Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO), Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO), Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO), ILECO I, ILECO II, ILECO III, Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO), Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO).
According to the ECs, the major factor in the spike for the month of August was the damaged submarine cable of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) connecting Cebu to Negros-Panay “causing imbalances of power requirement” intended for Region 6 electric coops automatically taken and supplied from WESM.
As a whole, they emphasized that the generation charge of the power generators triggered the increase of power rates because of its expensive price in the electricity market.
They added that while the DSM (Distribution, Supply and Metering) charge of Region 6 ECs remains the same and no changes at all, DSM charges are the “only portion on the electricity bill collected by the electric coops to sustain its services, and operation”.
“For instance, the issue concerning the clamor of the electricity consumers of ILECO 1 in comparison to the private utility, wherein said private utility is temporarily sourcing its power from PSALM from June 2021 to present that resulted to lower electricity rates. However, the said rate is subsidized by the government, and contract is temporary and non-firm,” they stressed.
WILL ILECO GIVE WAY TO PRIVATE DU?
Will the ECs here give up their lines and poles to a private utility?
Roquios said the answer lies with the MCOs.
“Indi man pwede mag give-up kay hinulsolan ta gid ‘na pila ka adlaw kon i-give up naton ang mga lines – ang lines ngaran are owned by you, MCOs. I-give naton ran kag negosyohan nila so daw pareho lang nga i-prito nila kita sa sarili naton nga mantika,” Roquios said.
Unlike other utilities, Roquios stressed that ECs are partners of the government in rural development; rural electrification is their mandate.
They started when no oligarchs or businessmen were interested to energize towns and barangays in the province of Iloilo.
With the help of government loans, Roquios said they started constructing distribution lines in municipalities, barangays, sitios and islands without thinking of recovering the cost but did it in the name of public service.
“Our hardships and sacrifices are compensated when we see happy faces of barangay folks experiencing the benefits of electricity. In the next three years we are targeting to energize the last remaining mountain barangays in Calinog and Janiuay as well as sitios that evolve all over the province. We even constructed 10 poles in an area with only five houses so that people there can have access to electricity–activities which will not be implemented by business-oriented utility,” he added.
In the last 20 years since the implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), Roquios noted ILECO maintained a “competitive and reasonable” cost of electricity to their MCOs.
“Let us preserve the gains of rural electrification. Let the MCOs maintain the ownership of the electric cooperative and this time give them a bigger and active role in the operations,” said Roquios./PN