By Paulo Loreto Lim

Resulting from the recent Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) decision allowing the Korean Electric Power Corporation-Salcon Power Corporation (Kepco-SPC) and the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) to collect P232 million from consumers, along with generation charge fluctuations, Ceneco General Manager Sulpicio Lagarde, Jr. predicted rate hikes for this month.
According to Lagarde, the ERC decision will cost consumers 8¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Power Watch Negros (PWN) Secretary-General Wennie Sancho recently expressed his opposition to the decision, calling it “injustice.”
“Why penalize the consumers for the inefficiency of the Ceneco board?” he asked.
Lagarde said public hearings were held to provide an opportunity to voice opposition and file legal manifestations, or documentation expressing grievances on the matter, however, he claimed, none were submitted.
Last month, Ceneco revealed the residential rate for September 2017 would be P10.0130 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). It was the first time rates were above P10/kWh since May 2017, when it was P10.5062/kwh./WDJ