• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power), the joint venture partner of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), will grant a month-long amnesty to consumers with illegal connections, its president Roel Castro said on Thursday (July 18).
Castro estimated that there are more than 6,000 power pilferers within the Ceneco coverage area, based on the survey conducted in previous months.
“The drive is to make them legal and regular,” he said in a press briefing during the Power 101 and rate setting seminar held at a restaurant in Bacolod City.
“If 10,000 or 20,000 will come forward, we are ready, because we have 30,000 new meters available,” Castro said.
The month-long amnesty will be for both residential and even business, he added.
Castro said that after a month, they will start their operations against power pilferers.
Over the five-year operations of MORE Power in Iloilo, the sister company of Negros Power, consumers rose by more than 40 percent, which increased from 62,000 to 100,000.
The 25-year franchise sought by the Negros Power, following its approval by Congress, is now in Malacañang for approval by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Castro said it is expected to lapse into law by the end of July, if it will not be signed or vetoed by the Chief Executive.
Still, Negros Power is hopeful that it will be signed by the President, he added.
“By August 1, we are prepared to take over Ceneco, with all the systems now in place,” Castro said.
The temporary office and business center of Negros Power is located at the second floor of Robinsons East, along Burgos Street in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City. | GB
