DoE official backs NEA control over power distributors

AN UNDERSECRETARY at the Department of Energy (DoE) has backed the proposal of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to be given authority to supervise not just electric cooperatives but also privately-owned distribution utilities (DUs).

Energy Undersecretary Benito L. Ranque, in a speech delivered in Baguio City, was quoted by NEA as saying: “If you plan NEA to be given authority and not just administration, I will help so that all service providers will be under NEA.”

Mr. Ranque was speaking at the gathering of the board of directors of electric cooperatives on Monday. He was the guest speaker at the conference attended by members of Rural Electric Cooperatives Board of Directors Association in the Philippines and National Center of Electric Cooperative Consumers, Inc., which was hosted by the Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc.

“I will support a change to the National Electrification Authority, and not administration. I will lobby Congress, the President, so that there would only be one,” he said.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has so far not commented on NEA’s proposal. The Energy Regulatory Commission was also silent on the issue.

NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong earlier said he wanted only one authority that will supervise all DUs “whether you are an electric cooperative or you are private. He made the call during the 20th conference of the National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives last week.

“Maybe we can do that especially (now) that we have a President who is pro-people, pro-electricity consumers. Maybe this is the time for us to lobby that we will have one agency supervising all DUs,” NEA said in a statement, quoting Mr. Masongsong.

NEA said its administrator asked the general managers of the electric cooperatives to help him lobby Congress to increase its mandate by putting private investor-owned utilities and private distribution utilities under the agency’s charge as well.

The NEA supervises 121 electric cooperatives all over the country.

Mr. Masongsong also asked the electric cooperatives to endorse the refiling of House Bill 6080, which hopes to modify the qualifications for, and create a screening committee in the election or appointment of cooperatives’ directors and officers. —