• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The local business community has expressed strong support for the modernization initiatives of Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power), citing their potential to lower electricity costs, minimize power interruptions, and strengthen Bacolod City’s long-term economic growth.
Business leaders led by Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) vice president Frank Carbon recently met with Negros Power president and chief executive officer Roel Castro to discuss the region’s power challenges and explore collaborative solutions to improve electricity reliability.
The meeting focused on recurring yellow and red alerts issued by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, which signal insufficient power supply and often result in rotating brownouts to prevent widespread blackouts.
Participants of the multi-sectoral meeting also discussed the impact of anticipated electricity rate increases and the need for stronger coordination between the power utility and the local government.
Carbon said the dialogue aimed to establish a “win-win” partnership between Negros Power and Bacolod City in addressing the area’s growing energy demands.
Among the immediate measures discussed was Negros Power’s assistance to PrimeWater Bacolod City by providing electricity to water pumping stations during power interruptions to help ensure continuous water supply.
Carbon said that additional power barges are expected to be deployed in Iloilo and Guimaras to augment electricity supply to Bacolod during periods of power shortage.
He said the proposed modernization of Bacolod’s power distribution system presents significant opportunities for both consumers and the utility provider.
The business leader said the initiative seeks to establish a more affordable, reliable, and resilient electricity network that would benefit households, businesses, and government services.
Lower electricity rates and fewer power outages are expected to enhance Bacolod’s competitiveness in attracting commercial and industrial investments while expanding Negros Power’s customer base.
The proposal also recommends the modernization and automation of the city’s power infrastructure to improve resilience against extreme weather conditions.
Carbon said upgraded distribution systems would help protect critical facilities and enable faster restoration of electricity services following emergencies.
He added that improved service reliability would strengthen public confidence in both Negros Power and the local government by reducing consumer complaints related to high electricity costs and recurring outages.
For the utility company, Carbon said the recommendations could generate operational and financial gains through the adoption of smart-grid technologies that reduce system losses, minimize electricity waste, and improve the efficiency of the distribution network.
The proposal likewise calls for the automation of substations and load-transfer systems to accelerate fault detection and response while reducing emergency repair costs and field operations.
Carbon also advocated the implementation of demand-side management programs to better regulate peak electricity consumption, helping prevent equipment overloads and reducing reliance on costly emergency power purchases during periods of high demand.
He noted that achieving higher operational performance standards would strengthen Negros Power’s standing with energy regulators and support future infrastructure expansion.
For consumers, the proposed improvements are expected to provide immediate financial relief through lower monthly electricity bills, allowing households to allocate more of their income to other essential needs while stimulating local economic activity.
Carbon emphasized that uninterrupted electricity is vital for small businesses, business process outsourcing firms, work-from-home professionals, internet cafés, and food establishments, where even brief outages can result in lost productivity, spoiled inventory, damaged equipment, and disrupted digital operations.
Business leaders also believe that a dependable and competitively priced electricity supply would significantly improve Bacolod City’s attractiveness to manufacturers and large-scale investors, further strengthening its position as an emerging economic hub in Western Visayas.
The proposal likewise highlights public safety benefits, including more reliable street lighting, improved traffic management systems, and uninterrupted operation of essential public infrastructure, which could help reduce nighttime accidents and deter criminal activity.
Carbon said modernizing Bacolod’s power distribution system should be viewed not merely as an infrastructure upgrade but as a long-term investment in economic development, consumer welfare, and sustainable urban growth that would deliver lasting benefits to both Negros Power and the people of Bacolod. | GPB
