A COUPLE of weeks back I wrote this: “So 30,000 less 4,000 equals to 26,000 still a long way to go…”
As of this writing, an additional 1,000 illegal electrical jumpers were caught and dismantled so 26,000 less 1,000 equals to 25,000.
If the going rate is 1,000 illegal jumpers caught in a week – about 4,000 in a month – it will take six months, give or take, to catch and dismantle the remaining 25,000 illegal jumpers.
Just to remind you folks about the seriousness of the illegal electrical jumper issue and its effect on us the ordinary consumer, this chronic problem has been plaguing the legitimate power consumers of “I Am Iloilo City” for the past century during erstwhile power provider Panay Electric Co.’s (PECO) watch, with them seemingly doing nothing tangible to at the very least address the problem.
It is a given fact and empirical data that system losses due to electricity pilferage can reach 20 percent and cause fires and power disruptions.
Likewise it is also a fact that illegal electrical connections a.k.a. jumpers are the main reason for these major power interruptions.
These 30,000 illegal power connections in Iloilo City have raised the total systems losses to 20 percent.
Translated into wattage, illegal connections could account for as much as 20 megawatts of the 100 megawatts that Iloilo City consumes every day.
Of course, everyone is very aware that an illegal electrical connection or jumper is a criminal offense a violation of the Anti-Pilferage of Electricity Act and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994.
Meanwhile, this is how it is when the universe is seemingly against you. Now this is just a figure of speech not meant to be taken literally. Sometimes though, it feels like it really is. If it is, then life is playing a cruel joke on you or telling you to move on.
It is already an undisputable fact that PECO is no longer the power provider of “I Am Iloilo City” with the expiration of its franchise and failure to renew it. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) also revoked its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). Then the Iloilo City government stripped it of its business permit through Executive Order No.71.
On top of all these, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 23 ordered the sheriff to place MORE Electric and Power Corp. in possession of PECO properties identified for expropriation.
Of course, who would take that lying down? One will do everything legally available. But when the universe is not on your side this happens:
PECO went to the Court of Appeals (CA) twice for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the expropriation case in the Iloilo RTC.
The CA rejected its argument which cited constitutionality issues as a valid reason to stop the expropriation case.
PECO then went to the CA for the third time for a TRO to stop the implementation of the writ of possession issued by the Iloilo RTC, but was denied.
After the implementation of the writ of possession, PECO then filed a supplemental petition with the CA asking that PECO be returned to possession with a status quo ante order, which was also denied.
If it rains, it pours. Just recently, a joint decision by the Department of Justice prosecutors on charges of conspiracy and falsification of public documents filed by PECO against its critics was “dismissed for utter lack of merit”, clearing respondents former councilors Joshua Alim and Plaridel Nava II along with Dr. Marigold Gonzales and Jane Javellana.
Now all that’s left is the one filed at the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of Republic Act 112112 which will be decided sometime next week. Now, considering the chronological events, particularly the court decisions leading up to this, do you seriously think PECO will get a favorable decision on this one?
I seriously doubt it. The odds are not in its favor. Neither is the universe.
Some unsolicited advice: PECO should just set aside its pride and accept the inevitable and compensation for all the assets and properties included in the Writ of Possession. It stands to be P481,842,450 richer. This estimated value has already been deposited in Landbank. That would be a more than enough capital for a used car business or a BMW dealership./PN
