Guimelco eyes increasing power rates
Guimaras Electric Cooperative Inc. (GUIMELCO) is eyeing an increase in power rates of up to P15 per kilowatt hour after its 13.2KV submarine cable was destroyed by Typhoon Frank. The cooperative will pass on the cost of damage of the submarine cable to its consumers.
Guimelco OIC-General Manager Remedios Garcia in a letter to Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava said that the estimated damage incurred by the electric cooperative in its submarine cable after being hit by typhoon Frank amounted to P4,163,500.
Garcia's letter dated June 30, 2008 said they will implement an increase from 30 to 40 percent with an equivalent of more or less P15 per kilowatt hour. The increase in power rates is the electric cooperative's means to cover up the cost of the damage in its submarine cable.
The June 2008 actual rate imposed by Guimelco to its member-consumers are as follows, residential - P14.9781; commercial - P15.8870 l; industrial - P15.1477; public building - P15.0100 and streetlight - P10.4292.
Presently, the Trans-Asia Oil Development Corporation, an Independent Power Producer (IPP), supplies the power needs of the island after Guimelco's submarine cable was damaged.
With the current problem in the electric cooperative, the Guimelco board and electric cooperative appealed for a funding assistance from the Guimaras provincial government for the instantaneous repair of the 13.2 KV submarine cable.
Meanwhile, Gov. Nava was not available for comment over the funding support requested by the electric cooperative to the provincial government for the repair of the damaged submarine cable. It is not immediately known whether it is allowed by law to extend funding support to an electric cooperative.