Poe seeks Senate approval of NEPC ...

Ceneco’s franchise areas include Negros Occidental cities of Bago, Talisay and Silay, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto, and capital Bacolod City.

However, the lady senator further said, as demand for power continues to increase, Ceneco was unable to keep up with the challenges.

Poe said Ceneco admitted its inability to rehabilitate and upgrade its facilities due to its current financial standing.

The National

Electrification Administration reported that the Negros-based electric cooperative is operating at a negative profit margin and has failed to pay its debts timely.

In 2023, Ceneco was classified as a Yellow-1 electric cooperative for its poor performance on collection efficiency, systems loss, working capital requirements, and financial operations, Poe said.

Power distribution is just one of the sectors of the electric power industry, but carries more public impact as a direct distributor of electricity to end-users.

Thus, Poe said, the demand is high for these distribution utilities to fulfill their obligations as public service providers.

NEPC has expressed its readiness and willingness to invest capital to modernize the distribution system amid the difficulties and address the operational challenges.

Poe believes that this investment would benefit, not only the franchise area, but also the power sector and the Philippine economy.

“Nakikita naman natin ang nagawa ng MORE Power sa Iloilo simula nang maipasa natin ang prangkisa nito noong 2019. Consumers in its franchise area now enjoy lower rates, vast improvement in facilities, and better customer service,” Poe said.

“Ang maganda sa pagkakaroon ng kasunduang ito ay mutual ang objective ng dalawang partido na mapabuti ang serbisyo ng kuryente para sa mga Negrense,” she added./