• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Three Negros Occidental solons have filed a bill in the House of Representatives granting Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) a franchise that could change the way electricity reaches the end-users in central Negros.
This follows the approval of the Joint Venture Agreement between NEPC and Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) by its member-consumers, as concurred by the National Electrification Administration.
House Bill 9310, jointly authored by Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, Fourth District Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer, and Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, seeks to grant NEPC a franchise to acquire, establish, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes and in the public interest, a distribution system for the conveyance of electric power to end users in cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago, as well as Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
CENECO, whose franchise will expire 2030, allegedly faces constraints due to its reliance on limited funding, no additional Capital Expenditures, and lack of access to modern technology.
NEPC said it is infusing an initial capital of P2 billion to rehabilitate and modernize electric power distribution to make it reliable and efficient to consumers, businesses, institutions, and other users within its franchise area.
The quality of service that CENECO has been providing has been wanting. Among the complaints against CENECO are power outages, voltage fluctuations, poorly-maintained lines, inadequate investment in distribution facilities, inordinate delay in the restoration of power services, overbilling/overcharging, and poor customer relations, among others, the explanatory note of HB 9310 said.
NEPC, a sister company of MORE Electric Power in Iloilo City, was established to engage in the distribution of electric power to consumers, businesses, institutions, and other users in the community within its franchise area.
NEPC will be managed and led by the same management group and technical team behind MORE Power, backed up by the same financial resources of the same group that owns, or control several publicly listed companies, such as Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, Manila Water Company Inc., and Apex Mining Company.
This group, according to the explanatory note of HB 9310, has demonstrated the amazing capability to turn around the decrepit and neglected distribution system in Iloilo City, and was able to quickly stabilize, rehabilitate, upgrade and expand the operating capacity and services.
It added that system loss has been reduced, more than 20,000 new customers have been added to the consumer base, and the power cost has been brought down in Iloilo City within only two years from its takeover of the decrepit and neglected distribution facilities.
“Considering the proven capabilities of NEPC and its potential to revolutionize the power distribution landscape in Central Negros, the Congress has a compelling reason to grant the franchise,” the three Negros lawmakers stated in their proposed house bill, officially submitted on September 25.
They also added that the move to grant the franchise to NEPC could catalyze economic growth and improve the quality of life in the said part of the country.
“With NEPC’s expertise and resources, Central Negros may soon enjoy reliable, efficient, and cost-effective electrical distribution services that will benefit its residents and businesses,” the Negrense lawmakers emphasized.
“The Support of the Members of Congress for the prompt and timely passage of this measure is earnestly sought,” they further stated.*
