Ceneco official vows to block proposed rate hike
BACOLOD CITY -- Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) board member Pepito Malapitan will oppose through a resolution any power rate increases which may be imposed in September this year.
As per report, another rate increase of eight centavos per kilowatt hour will be proposed for implementation by the National Power Corporation.
Malapitan described it as an additional burden to the people with the current economic crisis.
The said increase is different to the 13-centavo per kilowatt hour imposed by Ceneco recently which is considered as “add on” charge on top of its present rate.
Meanwhile, Ceneco president Edward Gasambelo said he is not clear about the proposed eight-centavo rate increase.
“I will seek clarification whether there is an increase to be implemented this year,” he added.
As far as he knew, the Energy Regulatory Commission will be implementation the performance benchmarking regulation this year. It will allow rate preparation to be localized by power utilities.
“There are more than 120 power utilities in the country and it will take months for one to apply for a rate increase. So the PBR will allow a power utility to determine its own power rates,” Gasambelo added.
Recently, the ERC officials went to the three electric cooperatives in the province to conduct public consultations on the matter.
Some oppositors said this would mean power rate increases, so that the power utilities would be more attractive to private investors.