CENECO moves to address power interruptions

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) acting general manager and project supervisor Atty. Danny Pondevilla said they are now addressing power interruptions in their service area.

In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Pondevilla said the interruptions can be attributed to both CENECO and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which operates the transmission grid.

He said he will also assess the accomplishment of the firm that was contracted for clearing operations, especially of trees that are affecting electric lines and poles.

If needed, Pondevilla said they will hire manpower to conduct the clearing operations.

Pondevilla also revealed that members of the Board of Directors will seek the approval of the Department of Energy to grant them power to evaluate the power supply offers.

He told reporters that they will ask for a resolution from the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod and the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan in support of their request to the DOE.

Pondevilla said that if the DOE grants the request, they will evaluate and choose between the offers of Kepco Salcon Power Corporation and the Energy Development Corporation for a 20-megawatt base load power supply for the next 10 years.

Earlier, a competitive selection process for the 20MW baseload supply agreement was conducted by the Third-Party Bids and Awards Committee.

It decided to award the contract to Kepco at P3.20 per kilowatt hour against the bid of EDC for a renewable power supply at P3.31.

“Must the 2-centavo difference outweigh the call for renewable energy?” Pondevilla asked.

He said the members of the board only have the authority to reject or accept the decision.

Pondevilla said they decided to consult the DOE before rendering their decision, especially that there is a pending complaint filed by the group Konsyumer Negros before the agency against the current contract between Kepco and Ceneco for the 40MW baseload power supply entered into in 2009.

Between EDC’s offer, which is renewable energy as against the conventional energy source of Kepco, Pondevilla said that if they have a choice, they will go for the former.

He also said that if the DOE allows the board of directors to evaluate the offers, they will negotiate with Kepco to shorten the extension to six months instead of a year.

Choosing EDC’s offer would mean holding another competitive selection process, he added.

Pondevilla said members of the Ceneco board discussed the formation of a consultative body and the selection process for its membership to ensure transparency whenever Ceneco enters into agreements with power suppliers and erase any doubts of overpricing and over-contracting.

He said they will ensure that the function of the body will not duplicate that of the members of the board.

Pondevilla added that they will not discriminate against any sector and will invite all consumers groups to send representatives.

The consultative body will also have representations from local government units, the business sector, and the media.

The body will be created in about two months.