BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The power rates of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative this month increased by P1.88 per kilowatt-hour, its acting general manager, Danny Pondevilla, said in an advisory yesterday.
Pondevilla said electricity cost this month was at P12.37 per kWh from P10.49 last month, and triggered by the hike in generation charges.
He said the increase in generation costs was a result of an increase in the market price due to the damaged submarine cables of the National Grid Corporation connecting Cebu and Negros islands.
Pondevilla said the preventive maintenance works scheduled by Palm Concepcion Power Corporation and adjustments approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission contributed to the increase in the power rates for August.
The pass-through charges, equivalent to P11.19 per kWh of the total power rate, also include government subsidies and taxes.
Only P1.1 of the electricity costs go to Ceneco through distribution, supply metering charges and reinvestment fund for sustainable capital expenditure for its administrative and operational services, Pondevilla added.
POWER OUTAGE
Ceneco also announced yesterday that several areas will experience power outages today, due to the scheduled replacement of two primary poles that are already non-serviceable, and the transfer of primary and secondary assembles for safety.
The power outage, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will affect areas under the Alijis Feeder, including Liroville and Golden River subdivisions in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, Pondevilla said.*
