• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco on Monday, May 25 expressed disappointment over the performance of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco), saying consumers have grown frustrated with the cooperative’s poor services and recurring power interruptions.
Jaojoco also criticized the cooperative’s high electricity rates, saying that Noneco’s charges are always higher compared to other electric cooperatives in Negros Island.
In May this year, Noneco was again reported to have the highest residential electricity rate of P12.12 per kWh.
Negros Electric and Power Corp. has a rate of P11.38 per kWh; Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative, P11.45 per kWh; Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative 1, P11.84 per kWh; and Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative 2, P11.57 per kWh.
Jaojoco said that consumers are already fed up with the poor quality of service being provided by Noneco.
During major power outages, specifically due to substation failures, Noneco routinely tapped Negros Power for temporary power supply in the past years.
Noneco is supplying power to the towns of E.B. Magalona, Manapla, Toboso, Calatrava as well as the cities of Victorias, Sagay, Escalante and San Carlos.
While there are talks about privatization of Noneco, Jaojoco said he remains cautious.
He acknowledged though that Negros Power, which has expressed interest to have a joint venture agreement (JVA) with Noneco, has shown good maintenance practices and operational improvements in Bacolod City.
“I don’t immediately believe what they are saying about privatization being expensive. To see is to believe,” he said, adding that electric cooperatives can also be costly depending on how they are managed.
“For me, what is important is good service and lower costs,” Jaojoco said.
The proposed JVA between Negros Power Corp. and Noneco has gained the support of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo and First District Rep. Julio Ledesma IV. | GB
