BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) general manager Atty. Dan Pondevilla denied that the contract extension for 20 megawatts of power supply from KEPCO SALCON Power Corporation was overpriced.
Their previous 40 megawatts contract expired on May 25.
According to Pondevilla, the P5.42 per kilowatt hour price for the one-year extension of contract with KEPCO was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) itself based on the previous contract.
Pondevilla further pointed out that the P3.29 per kilowatt hour stated by consumers’ group Power Watch Negros lead convenor Wennie Sancho is the lowest bid that was also given by KEPCON SALCON during the Competitive Selection Process last month.
However, the contract was not awarded as they were also considering another offer by a renewable power company which was priced at P3.31 per kilowatt hour.
Even though it is two centavos more expensive, they have expressed interest with the offer especially since renewable energy is more sought after today, Pondevilla explained.
He added they have already asked the Department of Energy for their own opinion on the matter.
Pondevilla further stated they have to choose and award the contract on the right energy source, as after it is done, it would last for at least 10 years.
Sancho earlier forwarded a letter to Negros Occidental’s 3rd District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez seeking a possibility of holding a congressional inquiry over the alleged overpricing.
He said the contract extension would lead to a P4- to P5-million monthly loss for Ceneco’s power consumers, or P300 million in one year./PN
