PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The city government of Puerto Princesa discussed with the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) the issues of the power situation and services extended by the electric cooperative to member-consumer-owners of the city.

Mayor Lucilo Bayron personally visited PALECO general manager Engr. Rez Contrivida on Wednesday, January 3, to seek answers to the power interruptions and complaints of MCOs about the increased power rate. Bayron expressed hope that problems would be resolved immediately.

“Ramdam niya umano kasi ang pakiramdam ng mga konsyumer na direktang apektado ng biglaang taas-singil na nagsimula noon pang bandang huling kwarter ng 2023,” city information office stated.

Contrivida reiterated that the increased power rate is rooted in the full effectiveness of the emergency power supply agreement (EPSA), where member-consumer-owners (MCOs) are paying the true cost generation rate (TCGR).

PALECO’s power supply agreement (PSA) with Delta P Inc. (DPI) is affected by the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, Inc., against the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

DPI is one of the power providers for PALECO, supplying 26.8 megawatts and holding 43.6 percent of the total supply in the main grid. From P13.67, MCOs are now paying P14.71 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the month of December in the absence of the universal charge for missionary electrification (UCME) for DPI.

Bayron believes that the chance to explain the situation to the MCOs will also be a big help in making them understand the cause of the increased power rates reflected on their consumption bills. The city information office and PALECO, along with the Puerto Princesa president of Liga ng mga Barangay Laddy Gemang and members of the Chamber of Commerce, will hold a press conference on Monday, January 8, to further disseminate the information. (RG/PIA Mimaropa - Palawan)

Banner photo from City Information Office Facebook Page