Problematic electric cooperatives
(Part II)
My piece on problematic electric coops elicited different reactions from readers.
Some shared with me their experience with the inefficient coops in their provinces.
On the other hand, the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (Philreca) wrote to defend electric cooperatives, saying that most of the power coops are operating efficiently.
As for the problematic ones, one letter sender from Batangas said that the Batangas II Electric Cooperative Inc. or Batelec II has been a problem for consumers for many years now.
“In my 20 years in Batangas, the service has not improved. It’s outdated and often, we experience blackouts. Usually the blackouts last the whole afternoon. When we call them to inquire, they will say that there is an electric post that fell. But really, their substations are old and they are still using wooden posts. Their maintenance people are not well trained. And so many more problems. I’m sharing this because I really wonder how they were able to get their franchise,” the reader said.
Another reader shared a similar experience, this time concerning Batangas I Electric Cooperative Inc. (Batelec I).
“Please allow me to give you an account of my electric coop. I am referring to Batangas I Electric Cooperative Inc. with office at Kilometer 116 National Highway, Calaca, Batangas, 4212. I believe this is in Nasugbu town, Batangas. I’ve had a small resthouse at Tali Beach subdivision in Nasugbu for almost 10 years. Since I bought the house, I pay monthly electric bills, ranging from P5,200 to P5,800. I go to my resthouse no more than four times a year, and stay less than four days each time. Every month, I am charged the above amounts, whether I go to my resthouse or not. I have a caretaker, but it is impossible for him to consume what I pay monthly. I lock the house when we are not there and the caretaker cannot use appliances inside the house. I know he opens a few light bulbs and one electric fan during the nights. He also has a small refrigerator. I also know from the caretaker and from personal experience that brownouts occur at least three times weekly for around two to three hours each time,” another reader lamented.
However, not all stories are the same. Some energy players defended the electric coops, saying that some of the entities are actually efficient and have provided various areas around the country with proper electricity.
In the letter Philreca sent to me, the power coop said that it is wrong to conclude that electric cooperatives are all problematic.
It said that because electric cooperatives are owned by their member-consumer-owners, they are the ones who ensure there is electricity because they are consumers themselves.
It also shared the results of the National Electrification Administration’s assessment on the annual performance of electric coops or ECs.
“For last year’s performance, 87 ECs were rated AAA. Of the 87 ECs, 33 received an overall score of 100. In 2016, 78 ECs were rated AAA, of which, 24 garnered 100 points. These are ECs top performers. If you have to look at the entire ECs, please note the results of the recent assessment also showed that 83 percent, or a total of 101 out of the 121 ECs, have notched either AAA, AA or A status last year. Of the remaining 20 ECs, four improved their performance either from C to B or D to C; 13 ECs manifested improvement in total scores, while three retained their performance level,” Philreca said.
On the issue surrounding Occidental Mindoro, Philreca clarified that power has already been restored.
The Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. (OMCPC), which supplies about 70 percent of the electricity in the province since April 2017, said earlier that power could only resume when the Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc.’s authority to avail itself of a government subsidy. That authority was granted immediately after OMCPC’s notice, Philreca said.
It added that the situation in Occidental Mindoro is not because of inefficiency on the part of OMECO.
“Please note that on Nov. 28, ERC released this authority and since then, such problem from OMCPC did not recur,” Philreca said.
Regarding Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp. providing an alternative solution to power cooperatives, Philreca said it is not against solar or any form of renewable energy.
At the end of the day, I do hope the inefficiencies of some power coops would be addressed. Otherwise, Filipino consumers would bear the brunt of power outages or costly alternatives. As I said, we no longer live in the dark ages. Everyone should indeed have access to reliable and affordable electricity.