By CESAR JOLITO III
Consumer advocates in Northern Negros have raised alarm over persistent power outages and service issues, citing aging infrastructure and alleged management lapses at the region’s electric cooperative, as they formally organized a new alliance to press for reforms.
The newly launched Alliance of Consumers in Northern Negros (ACNN) said findings from a series of consumer education forums and surveys conducted last year revealed widespread dissatisfaction with electricity services under Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco).
According to ACNN, the surveys — carried out by the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) from September to November 2025 — covered consumers in the cities of Escalante, Sagay, Cadiz, and Victorias.
Respondents consistently complained of frequent power interruptions, slow response to service requests, inefficient customer service, and a lack of transparency and accountability in cooperative operations.
Consumer leaders said many of the issues persist due to deteriorating and outdated distribution facilities, including power lines and transformers that have exceeded their intended service life.
Overloaded and poorly maintained transformers were identified as a major cause of outages, with excessive demand leading to overheating and equipment failure.
“Much of the cooperative’s infrastructure is already in its worn-out period,” ACNN said in a statement, warning that deferred maintenance and obsolete systems have weakened the grid’s ability to meet modern electricity demand.
Aging lines, cracked insulators, sagging conductors, and failure-prone transformers were cited as indicators of a system in urgent need of rehabilitation.
The group also warned that extreme weather events pose heightened risks to the aging network.
Strong winds, heavy rains and storms can easily damage weakened poles, lines and substations, triggering prolonged blackouts even during routine weather disturbances.
ACNN stressed that electricity consumers bear the brunt of mismanagement, noting that reliable power is essential for households, businesses and public services.
The alliance said its formation is aimed at strengthening consumer participation, demanding regular consultation with the cooperative, and pushing for transparency, accountability and timely upgrades to the power system.
“Electricity is imbued with public interest,” the group said, adding that organized consumers play a crucial role in ensuring equitable, sustainable and dependable power services./CJ, WDJ