Power Watch Negros secretary-general Wennie Sancho said on Tuesday (April 16) that they are preparing to file a complaint against employees of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) who are allegedly involved in possible illicit activities leading to power outages on March 26 and April 11 in Bacolod City.
“On behalf of the consumers, Power Watch Negros will also request Ceneco acting general manager Arnel Lapore to conduct a comprehensive investigation into these hours-long brownouts,” Sancho said in a statement.
He noted that the power outages have been a source of inconvenience, irritation, and sleep disturbances for the consumers.
Power Watch Negros also requested that the National Electrification Administration (NEA) probe the power outages, especially the April 11 brownout.
There were reports that an optical ground wire, a type of overhead power line cable, was “disconnected” or severed, causing an extensive blackout lasting almost four hours.
“We seek to discern whether this disconnection or severance of the optical ground wire was deliberate and intentional, or if it was a result of force majeure,” Sancho said.
“It would ordinarily require a tool such as a bolt cutter to sever such a cable. If allegations are confirmed that Ceneco linemen attempted to disrupt Ceneco’s operations, this would constitute a serious crime causing harm to public welfare,” he added.
Sancho said that as member-consumer-owners, they have a fundamental right to remain informed consumers and to have efficient access to information on issues affecting the electric service.
He added that Power Watch also “strongly recommends that any involved linemen should recuse themselves from operating in the same area to avoid any potential whitewashing of the investigation”.
“If the allegations are proven true, it would be a disservice to our public,” Sancho further said.||
