- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Central Negros Electric Cooperative said yesterday it will implement a retroactive refund of the amount collected from consumers due to the damaged submarine cable of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines that led to the high cost of electricity in Panay and Negros.
Atty. Danny Pondevilla, acting general manager of Ceneco, said the refund will be promptly reflected in the bills as soon as the Philippine Electricity Spot Market Corporation (PEMC) issues power bill adjustments in accordance with the directive of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
“While Ceneco was furnished with a copy of the ERC’s directive to PEMC, the Cooperative cannot automatically implement the refund to its consumers since PEMC has yet to determine the amount for approval of the ERC,” Pondevilla said.
“Once approved, the refund will be retroactive and reflected in Ceneco’s forthcoming bills,” he added.
He said the average residential rate for October of P10.1788 per kilowatt-hour, or a decrease of P2.0814/kWh from the September rate of P12.2602/kWh does not yet include the refund.
The decrease can be attributed to the reduction in generation charges due to the decrease in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) price for this billing month only, Pondevilla said.
Ceneco and other electric cooperatives as well as local government units in Negros and Panay sought the ERC intervention to review the high charges brought about by the Cebu-Negros submarine cable of the NGCP in Amlan, Negros Oriental that was damaged June 15 this year.
The ERC then ordered the PEMC to refund the congestion charges and other applicable charges previously collected from consumers in Negros and Panay from the time the damage occurred.
Pondevilla said Ceneco was furnished the ERC order dated Sept. 20, directing the PEMC to stop the collection from customers of the congestion charges and other applicable charges until the complete restoration and operationalization of the submarine transmission line, or until a more applicable pricing and settlement solution is ordered by the Commission. | NND
