- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative said July 21 that its average residential rate this month decreased by P0.1542 per kilowatt-hour, which means that consumers will be paying P12.5564/kWh, from last month’s rate of P12.7106/kWh.
The decrease was due to the reduction in the generation rate, and a 1.21 percent downtrend in the Ancillary Service Charge of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the Noneco advisory said.
It added that its Distribution, Supply, and Metering (DSM) charges of P1.6109/kWh, being used for the maintenance, construction, administrative, and daily operations of Noneco, remain unchanged since February 2010.
The Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative recently said their average residential rates this billing month decreased by P1.1902/kWh, and P1.37/kWh, respectively.
Ceneco’s July rate is at P11.59/kWh, while Noceco’s consumers will pay P13.37/kWh.
Meanwhile, the Energy Regulatory Commission has relaxed the deadline for late meter permit renewal of distribution utilities (DUs) or electric cooperatives.
This is to ensure the accuracy of customer billing meters, the ERC said in granting leniency to DUs that failed to meet the prescribed timelines in renewing their Certificate of Authority (CA) to Operate and Maintain a Meter Shop.
Under ERC Resolution 07, series of 2023, DUs that have not yet renewed their CA are required to complete their applications for renewal on or before Sept. 30 this year, to avail of the leniency program and avoid financial penalties for late renewal.
All DUs without a CA to operate and maintain a meter shop are required to immediately suspend the collection of the metering charge from their consumers, the Commission added in a statement.
An updated CA ensures that the DUs’ metering facilities are accurate in measuring the power consumption of customers and in meeting the regulatory standards of ERC, it stressed. “DUs that continue to operate their meter shops without a valid CA do not have any authority to collect the metering charge from consumers until they are able to renew their CA.”/CGC
