The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS), together with the Alliance of Consumers in Northern Negros (ACNN) will convene the Central and Northern Negros Consumers Conference on noontime today at the Orange Room, 3rd floor Lopue’s East Building, Burgos Extension, Bacolod City.
ACCESS and ACNN express grave apprehension over the thinning energy reserve in the Visayas Grid. DOE data shows that Visayas grid is operating with critically low reserves, especially during peak hours when major plants go on forced outages.
ACCESS president Wennie Sancho said, “We are alarmed by the apparent inadequacy of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to absorb the influx of various renewable energy projects without frequency disturbance. While we support the transition to clean energy, the grid must be ready.”
The Central and Northern Negros Consumers Conference aims to establish direct dialogue with Negros Electric and Power Corp. and other stakeholders, demand immediate action from NGCP and DOE to address the Visayas thin reserve through fast-tracking of approved transmission projects and the procurement of sufficient ancillary services to stabilize the frequency amid RE integration. To evaluate unsolicited proposal for partnership and capital infusion that can replicate the system improvement seen in the Negros Power – CENECO model and push for their transparent consideration by NONECO, he said.
The officers of ACNN will manifest their support by issuing An Urgent Call in support of the intended partnership between NONECO and Negros Power.
The conference aims to unify the voices of consumers from San Carlos to Sagay, from Bacolod to Victorias, to finalize a northern negros consumers power agenda (NNCPA) for submission to ERC, DOE, NGCP, NEA and Congress before the next power supply crisis hits, Sancho said.
Joe Mel Zaposteza, vice president and chief operating officer of Negros Electric and Power Corp., has been invited to give an update on the 5-Year Development Plan of Negros Power. Sancho, on the other hand, will turn over Zaposteza ACCESS Resolution No. 2026-04-001 “A Resolution Commending and Supporting Negros Power and Electric Corp., for Upholding Consumers Welfare and Service Standards Consistent with DOE policies.”
The conference will be highlighted with the induction of ACNN officers led by Pastor Efraim Tapang as ACNN president with Arnel Lapore, CENECO acting general manager will be the induction officer. CENECO president Dwight Carbon will give a solidarity message.
Sancho stressed that this conference will serve as a partnership between the electricity consumers and distribution utilities and electric cooperatives particularly in confronting the oil and energy crisis we are facing now.*
