In response to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ceneco) earlier introducing their “one bill policy,” where member-consumers are given nine days to pay their bill or face disconnection, the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution last week asking the utility co-op to reconsider the move.
According to City Councilor Simplicia Distrito, who authored the resolution, she called the policy “disadvantageous to the low-income earners of the city” as she considers the time frame “a short period.”
The sentiment echoes the previous statement by local advocacy group Power Watch Negros, where Wennie Sancho, the group’s secretary-general of consumer groups, said the new policy will adversely affect the lower-income groups and informal sectors.
In a statement earlier this month, Ceneco noted disconnections are made only after the due date and are conducted two days after receiving a notice. They also discouraged waiting for a disconnection notice before paying one’s bill.
Last week, the utility co-op revealed December residential rates went up by P1.06 per kilowatt hour (kWh), increasing from last month’s P9.4019/kWh to P10.4678/kWh.
They previously earlier reported a 30¢ decline in rates from October to November./DGB, WDJ