• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) granted the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), in a Notice of Resolution dated October 16.
With the grant of CPCN, NEPC, also known as Negros Power, is authorized to begin operations as the distribution utility for its franchise area, including cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago, as well as Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.
A CPCN is a type of regulatory compliance certification for public service industries. Private companies wishing to provide essential public services must be granted a CPCN before constructing facilities and offering services.
The CPCN ensures that the distribution facility (DU) meets ERC’s standards safeguarding public interests. In summary, CPCN issuance is vital for DU’s to operate legally, provide quality services and ensure public trust, according to Wennie Sancho, president of the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS).
In their continued efforts to enhance accessibility and convenience for our customers, Negros Power said that Customer Care Centers will be opening on November 11 at Robinson East in Bacolod City, Lopues Supermarket at Barangay Salvacion in Murcia, New Silay Lumber Enterprises building in Brgy. Lantad, Silay City, Don Vicent G. Jocson commercial building at Paseo Mabini Avenue in Talisay City, and soon to open at Sarmiento Street Extension in Bacolod City.
It also retained the CENECO customer care centers at Mabini Street in Bacolod City, Salvador Benedicto Rizal Streets in Murcia, Cinco de Noviembre Street in Silay City, N.N. Araneta Street in Brgy. Poblacion, Bago City, and at Bonifacio Street in Talisay City.
Negros Power is also encouraging online payments.
ACCESS WELCOMES CPCN
The granting of the Certificate for Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to the Negros Power is a welcome development for ACCESS and for all stakeholders of the power industry, ACCESS president Wennie Sancho said in a press release.
Since the CPCN authorizes Negros Power to take full operation and control of all CENECO infrastructure, equipment, substations etc., there no more legal impediment to restrain Negros Power from taking full control of management and operation of this distribution utility (DU), he said.
Negros Power can now rehabilitate the substandard insulators and aging transformers to prevent overheating and overloading which in effect would prevent power outages. Systems loss would be reduced greatly with a massive campaign against power pilferage and illegal connections, Sancho said.
ACCESS would like to thank ERC for granting the CPCN but also enjoins the consumers for their support and cooperation to exercise their rights and responsibilities, he said.
From the darkness to a noonday bright. Reliable power and efficient services from Negros Power will now become a reality. Just in time for Christmas, light brings hope, peace and love. This could be the fulfillment of “Service beyond power.” Sancho said.
With the issuance of the CPCN to Negros Power, this will be a new beginning of massive preventive and predictive maintenance operation as expected by ACCESS, he added.*