In response to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ceneco) introducing their “one bill policy,” where member-consumers are given nine days to pay their bill or face disconnection, local advocacy group Power Watch Negros said it will adversely affect “small consumers.”
According to Wennie Sancho, the group’s secretary-general of consumer groups, the new policy will adversely affect the lower-income groups and informal sectors.
He added, the policy did not also undergo consultation with the member-consumers and called it “untimely and inappropriate” due to the holiday season.
“Ceneco should first improve its inefficient services, especially during unannounced power outages,” Sancho said. “Nobody answers their emergency hotlines.”
Last week, Ceneco released an advisory, where they announced the implementation of the one-bill disconnection policy.
In addition to disconnection, the utility co-op will also conduct inspections to prevent illegal reconnections.
Electric meters will be removed 30 days after service is disconnected./DGB, WDJ