Local group Power Watch Negros (PWN) is requesting Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore to conduct a comprehensive investigation into recent power interruptions in Bacolod City.

PWN secretary-general Wennie Sancho, in a statement yesterday, said they raised suspicions about “possible internal forces” attempting to sabotage Ceneco’s operation.

Sancho said they are asking Lapore to investigate the hours-long brownouts, “which have been a source of inconvenience, irritation and sleep disturbances for consumers.”

He added that an in-depth investigation is needed to determine the main causes of these dreaded brownouts, especially those occurring at midnight or early in the morning.

PWN is also requesting the National Electrification Administration to also conduct a concurrent investigation into power interruptions that happened on April 11.

Sancho said they are preparing to file complaints against several Ceneco employees allegedly involved in possible illicit activities which led to power outages on March 26 in the city.

He added that if the reports are true that linemen from Ceneco attempted to disrupt operations, “this would constitute a serious crime causing harm to public welfare.”

The reports indicated that an optical ground wire — an overhead power line cable — was “disconnected” or cut off, which led to a four-hour extensive blackout.

“We seek to discern whether this disconnection or severance of the optical ground wire was deliberate and intentional, or if it was a result of force majeure,” the PWN secretary-general said.

“If the allegations are proven true, it would be a disservice to our public,” Sancho said./WDJ