SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) - - Amid the concern of increasing power costs, the Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO) intends to revive the plan to construct a mini-hydropower plant in Sebaste, Antique.

In a press conference, ANTECO Officer-In-Charge Jerose F. Mioten said that there is a feasibility study undertaken by the cooperative way back in 2009 in the attempt to find a solution to the increasing power rates.

“ANTECO is planning to revive the Mini-hydro project in Sebaste,” she said, noting that the cooperative has already spent about P16 million for the feasibility study way back then but was stalled due to the lack of a Water Rights Certificate which was not granted to them by the Water Rights Regulatory Board.

Mioten said that when the project will be revived, the cost could double as per previous estimates considering the recent foreign exchange rates and other factors that could affect the cost of the project. However, they are bent on pursuing the project to have a stable supply of energy sourced out in the province.

that these energy sources could help lower the cost of electricity in Antique, Mioten said that they are constrained by the provisions of Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) wherein they can’t directly get the power supply from them.

“How ironic nga dya kita nagabuol kang coal sa Semirara, how ironic nga ridya si SUWECO [Sunwest Water and electric Company, Inc.] pero wara kita nagabuol kang kontrata kananda, it is because of the EPIRA Law. Constraints kita nga indi kita pagustuhan lang kun diin kita ma kontrata (How ironic that we have energy sources here: a coal mine in Semirara, Caluya and Sunwest Water and Electric Company, Inc. in Bugasong but we can’t directly get our power supply from them because of the EPIRA law)," she said.

Regarding the recent report on high electricity charges, ANTECO presented a computation of power charges from generation to transmission noting that all charges are being passed on to the consumers without additional cost from them.

Mioten emphasized that the ANTECO management is being transparent about their charges in compliance with the directives of the Energy Regulatory Board. (JBG/PSM/PIA Antique)