• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative said it will suspend electricity service disconnections for residential and non-residential consumers for three billing months, starting in May, even as it announced a P1.76 per kilowatt-hour decrease in its average rates this month.
The reduction in the residential rates, from P13.21kWh in April to P11.45kWh in May, is mainly due to lower generation and transmission charges, amounting to P1.19 and P0.24kWh, respectively, Noceco said in an advisory.
“The decrease in the generation rate can be attributed to the suspension of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) operations nationwide, which prevented a projected spike in electricity prices,” it added, noting that the Energy Regulatory Commission “replaced market-driven prices with a ‘modified administered price’ mechanism that protected consumers from higher electricity costs.”
Noceco also decided that aside from suspending electricity service disconnections for the billing months of May, June, and July, it is also offering flexible payment options for concerned customers.
This is in compliance with the State of National Energy Emergency earlier declared by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and the ERC directive on the implementation of consumer protection measures, to help ease the burden of households on rising fuel and food costs.
All residential and non-residential consumers with monthly consumption of 200kWh and below are allowed to defer payments of their electricity bills during these billing months, the distribution utility said. “They may also opt to pay on a staggered basis for at least three months, or payment may be spread in a three-month installment scheme.”
Noceco urged its consumers in Pulupandan, San Enrique, Valladolid, Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan, Sipalay, Hinoba-an, and La Carlota City “to adopt a crisis-mode approach to energy conservation” and to mitigate the impact of possible increases in power rates in succeeding months.
Simple actions, such as reducing aircon usage, switching to LED bulbs, and unplugging appliances when not in use can significantly lower power consumption and help cushion the impact of future rate hikes, it added. | CGC
