Power Watch Negros (PWN) issued a statement yesterday warning of more massive costs the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) plans to pass on to consumers, following the P232 million approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

In a text message from PWN Secretary-General Wennie Sancho, he said, if the approved charges are implemented by October 25, which is said to add 8¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to consumer bills, an additional P147 million in billing from the Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) will follow.

“A total of P379 million will be passed on to the consumers,” he explained.

He also lamented about the coming rate hikes this month, which Ceneco revealed was over P1/kWh. The utility co-op blamed the changes on fluctuations in the generation charge, transmission charge, and system loss.

Sancho referred to the situation as an “avalanche” of rate increases.

He noted, a petition regarding the matter will be forwarded to President Rodrigo Duterte, where they will demand an investigation into alleged “overcontracting” by Ceneco. Earlier this year, PWN and nine other groups held a protest rally in front of Ceneco main office over the said issue.

Last week, Co-op President Roy Cordova said the increase stemming from the ERC decision will be put on hold temporarily, saying, “The board will further review the order.”

However, despite the rate hike postponement, the utility co-op revealed the residential rate for October 2017 will be P11.0280/kWh. The last time rates were above P11/kWh was back in March of this year, when rates hit P11.1669/kWh./DGB, WDJ