Demand for MORE Power expansion escalates

By Herbert Vego

WE chanced upon electricity consumers from the 1^st and 2^nd districts of Iloilo meeting with MORE Power spokesman Jonathan Cabrera at Hotel del Rio. Accompanied by Pavia, Iloilo councilor Jose Maria “Pyt” Trimañez, they reiterated their request for the distribution utility to expand from its Iloilo City homebase to their municipalities.

We heard them say, “We want more,” apparently referring to MORE Power, Iloilo City’s distribution utility.

Their impatience was not really surprising because MORE Power has reduced its residential rate anew at only ₱10.52 per kilowatt-hour from the previous ₱11.12/kWh while its commercial rate has gone down from ₱10.45 to ₱9.84/kWh.

The electric cooperatives charge higher by one to three pesos.

I remembered MORE Power President/CEO Roel Castro saying, “This reduction is a big help for ordinary families, especially now that classes have started. Every peso saved on electric bills can be redirected to support their children’s schooling.”

For example, a family that consumes 200 kilowatt-hours this month will save ₱122 from his power bill.

As this column previously enthused, there is no more obstacle to the expansion of MORE Power service to Passi City and 15 Iloilo municipalities in accordance with Republic Act No. 11918, which was enacted in 2022 or three long years ago.

These 15 municipalities are Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas and San Enrique.

Take note that none of the 15 belong to the 1st district.

As already widely known, the Supreme Court (SC) has already denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Iloilo Electric Cooperative I (ILECO I) and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) which questioned the legality of MORE Power’s franchise expansion under RA 11918.

The Court reaffirmed that public utility franchises are not exclusive and that Congress, through its legislative powers, may amend or expand franchises to prioritize the general welfare.

So, when would MORE Power start connecting provincial customers.

“Soon,” Cabrera assured his audience, adding that the company was still waiting for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The CPCN is an authorization to proceed.

Meanwhile now showing are electric posts and power lines being installed in Pavia and Santa Barbara.  The rest of the 15 municipalities and Passi City will eventually have their turn.

“What about our municipalities?”

The question came from residents of the 1^st District, which is made up of the municipalities of  Guimbal, Igbaras, Miagao, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.

Cabrera said these towns are not covered by expansion contemplated by RA 11918.  There had to be another amendment to the expansion franchise.

A representative of a consumer organization, Bantay ng Bayan – 101 Association, Inc. (BNB 101), waxed optimistic over the alleged “openness” of 1^st Dist. Congresswoman Janette Garin to welcome a competitor to the Iloilo 1 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 1). She needs to respond to public clamor for another distribution utility to come in.

In a resolution dated February 7, 2025, BNB 101 also urged local officials to push for MORE Power’s entry into the 1st District.

The impending competition with MORE Power would probably slash down ILECO’s customers who are fed up with higher rates and poor performance. Lesser number of customers means higher rates.

Anyway, I guess the congresswoman has heard of how the Central Negros Cooperative (Ceneco) extricated itself out of debts amounting to more than ₱600 million by partnering with MORE Power under a new name, Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power).

The financial instability that drowned Ceneco could be the same problem now boggling other electric cooperatives.

These “electric co-ops” are not really cooperatives in the real sense of the word where consumers are deemed “owners”. You see, they are not entitled to dividends.

Moreover, since electric co-ops are non-stock and non-profit, they are likely to charge higher rates in order to repair and upgrade obsolete facilities that contribute to the system’s losses.

Garin has yet to respond to the resolution of BNB-101, urging her and local officials to push for MORE Power’s entry into the 1st District.

A new law would be required to further extend MORE Power’s franchise to the 1st District, which includes the towns of Guimbal, Igbaras, Miagao, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.

“What if the board directors of ILECO 1 fear that they would lose income if the co-op partners with MORE Power?” I asked Cabrera.

In the case of Ceneco, Cabrera explained, it retains 30% of the assets of Negros Power.

What could be a fairer deal for a cooperative saved from bankruptcy?