BY MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – Groups wary of Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s (Ceneco) power purchase contract with Energreen Power Development and Management, Inc. (Energreen) formed a huge alliance to, among others, counter a possible increase in electricity rates.
The Utility Consumers Alliance of Negros (UCAN) formally organized yesterday aims to defend consumers’ rights and welfare, said Fr. Ernie Larida who was elected chairman.
Larida is also the spokesperson of the Diocese of Bacolod’s Social Action Center. He said one of the alliance’s advocacies is the correct billing of consumers.
No overbilling or overpricing, he stressed.
UCAN will also be promoting renewable energy.
The alliance also counts as members the Freedom from Debt Coalition, urban poor, Bayan Muna party-list, a group of electrical engineers, and a host of civic groups.
Ceneco’s coverage area includes the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Bago, and the town of Murcia.
Former Ceneco board member Roy Cordova has also joined UCAN. He recently urged the electric cooperative to refund consumers with revenues collected from the rentals of transformers, poles, penalties and other fees.
Larida said the purchase price of power from Enegreen – P12.44 per kilowatt hour – is higher than those from other power producers. Consumers fear an increase in power rates.
Ceneco and Energreen’s contract will take effect this December.
Energreen’s power plant is located in Barangay Calumanggan, Bago City.
There are also concerns on what exactly will Energreen use to produce power – biomass or diesel – and if the power producer has secured an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Reached for his comment, Energreen spokesperson Manny Canto said they have secured an ECC for a diesel power plant./PN
