ERC raises ‘dangerous’ violations by PECO

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Panay Electric Company, Inc. (PECO) committed violations in the operations and maintenance of its distribution system, posing dangers and risks to the consumers in Iloilo City.

This was the main finding of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on the investigation on the pole fire incidents in Iloilo City.

ERC issued two separate orders on PECO on November 26 and November 27 pointing out the operational lapses found by the ERC Inspection Team.

In an order dated on Nov. 26, 2019, the findings of the inspection team revealed that PECO’s protective devises were not properly rated and designed.

According to ERC, “some poles were found leaning and in unsafe positions; and some meters were found to be clustered and installed in an Elevated Metering Center (EMC) without securing prior ERC approval.

“Based on the findings of the ERC technical team that conducted the ocular inspection on the electric distribution system of PECO, the latter committed lapses in the operations and maintenance of its distribution system thereby posing danger and risks to the lives and properties of its consumers,” said ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera said in a news release.

ERC stressed that the said lapses violated the provisions of the Philippine Distribution Code (PDC) 2017 Edition; Amended Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (DSOAR); Amended Elevated Metering Center (EMC) Rules; and ERC Resolution No. 12, Series of 2009 (Guidelines for the Accreditation of

“PECO must submit its explanation within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the Commission’s Order pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). We need to accord PECO the opportunity to explain its side before we evaluate the extent of their liability for the operational lapses that were discovered,” Devanadera added.

In a separate order issued on Nov. 27, ERC once again pointed the violations of PECO citing that 16 concrete poles and 11 wooden poles were found leaning beyond the prescribed limit.

Out of the 29 voltage testing conducted, three were measured under-voltage resulting to another violation of the amended DSOAR, ERC added.

Following the violations, ERC directed PECO to implement the necessary corrective measures on its distribution network and submit a report detailing the actions taken within 30 days from receipt of the order.

Last November, an inspection team from ERC visited the city to conduct an ocular inspection on PECO’s facilities in response to the letter complaint of Mayor Jerry Treñas addressed to the Office of the President and the ERC.

Treñas expressed concerns on the series of pole fire incidents concerning PECO’s properties that transpired from Oct. 19 to Oct. 21 in the metro.