GUIMELCO explains sudden spike in power bills

Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO) explained the sudden increase in the bills of its consumers.

In a statement issued on April 30, 2020, the cooperative cited several factors such as the sudden surge in demand amid the summer season.

According to GUIMELCO General Manager Shirley S. Laurente the increase in generation charges of power suppliers, especially the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, is a big factor in the sudden spike of power rates.

“It is during these times every year that our consumers experienced high billing consumption due to the summer season. We should also take note that our power rates are highly regulated by ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission),” Laurente said.

While some consumers believed that GUIMELCO has no basis in increasing their power bills, their meters will always indicate their actual consumption.

“Our consumers can always check their kWh (kilowatt-hour) meters and compare it with their billing statement,” Laurente added. “If there is discrepancy indeed, we will be willing to adjust their billing statement”.

Since the implementation of the community quarantine amid the COVID-19 pandemic, most Guimaras residents opted to stay at home which may have led to higher electricity consumption.

This scenario is also common in most electric cooperatives in the country.

Guimaras remains COVID-19 free, which can be maintained if residents continue to stay at home for now.

GUIMELCO said its meters were calibrated and sealed by ERC to ensure accurate reading of energy consumption in every household.

“Our kWh meters are already digital, so our Member-Consumer-Owners (MCOs), at their own convenience, can check and monitor their consumption on their own,” Laurente added.

Those who cannot afford to pay their bills in full can apply for the Staggered Payment Program where consumers have the option to pay their bills in a maximum of four monthly installments.

As of Thursday, 8,708 lifeline residential consumers in Guimaras have enjoyed free electricity for the billing month of April 2020 through the Pantawid Liwanag Program of the cooperative.

“We would like also to emphasize that the budget for the Pantawid Liwanag Program comes from the canceled institutional activities of the cooperative following the directives of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) through a memorandum,” Laurente explained.

“It is not true that the free electricity of lifeline consumers or those with 25kWh consumption or less are passed on to those with more than 25kWh consumption.”

Last April 14, NEA issued a memorandum for the cancellation of the 2020 Annual General Assembly and other similar activities and deferment of 2020 district elections.

NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong said in the memorandum that “the budget already appropriated for the said activities may be realigned into working capital requirements necessary to sustain and ensure the continuity of EC operations and to Cooperative Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of ECs (e.g. “Pantawid Liwanag” for lifeline MCOs or Member-Consumer-Owners)”.

 

Payment due dates have also been extended to give way to consumers to prioritize their needs.

March billings can be paid by the end of May 2020 without penalty and interest.