Negros Power allots PHP 1.3B for upgrades

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) has earmarked PHP 1.3 billion for infrastructure upgrades, rural electrification, and service reliability improvements across Negros Occidental.

The local distribution utility said the funds would go toward power system improvements, including upgrades to substations, power lines, transformers, and poles.

The investments have already shown results. The average number of power interruptions dropped to 1.41 per month in 2025, a 59 percent decline from the previous year.

Outage durations have also improved sharply, falling to a monthly average of 129 minutes in 2025 from 993 minutes per month in 2024.

“Our goal is to ensure that our customers continue to enjoy affordable power while supporting our long-term sustainability through renewable energy,” said Roel Z. Castro, president and CEO of Negros Power.

The company is also expanding electricity access to underserved communities through its Sitio Electrification Program.

By the end of 2025, Negros Power had energized 41 sitios, bringing power to 2,061 households.

The program aims to reach 10,241 more households in 318 additional sitios over the next few years. To ease the process for residents in remote areas, the company introduced on-site applications and on-site payments.

Beyond rural electrification, Negros Power is rolling out underground distribution systems in urban areas, shifting from overhead lines to underground cables.

Energization of key streets in Bacolod City and other urban centers began in January 2026 and is expected to improve grid resilience and enhance the visual appearance of city corridors.

To support growing demand, the company is deploying a 37.5-megavolt-ampere mobile substation scheduled for installation within the year. The PHP 192 million facility will ensure continuous electricity supply while permanent substations undergo upgrades and provide additional capacity as power demand rises.

Former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela welcomed the company’s modernization efforts, noting that the improvements are strengthening the province’s energy infrastructure while maintaining affordable electricity rates.

Negros Power said it aims to build a more resilient and sustainable electricity system for Negros Occidental as it expands renewable energy supply and continues upgrading the grid.

The company added that its modernization initiatives could serve as a model for other distribution utilities seeking to improve reliability and expand electricity access nationwide.

Negros Power is a subsidiary of More Electric and Power Corporation, which also holds the franchise for electricity distribution in Iloilo City.

The company took over the distribution franchise in Negros Occidental from the Central Negros Electric Cooperative in 2020 following a congressional franchise grant.