NEPC raring to take over Ceneco

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) President and CEO Roel Castro announced that NEPC is prepared to take over the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) in August, 2024.

“We are prepared and ready to take over. When I say we are ready, it means all systems, personnel, and documentation are in place,” Castro said during the recent Power 101 seminar at Bar 21.

While awaiting their legislative franchise, NEPC has processed its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with the Energy Regulatory Commission for evaluation.

The CPCN permits a utility to provide service to a new geographic area, enter a new franchise agreement, or construct and operate a new facility outside the “ordinary course of business.”

Castro clarified, “The CPCN can only be granted once we have the franchise, but we have already applied early.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed Republic Act Number 12011 on July 26, 2024, just a day before it would have lapsed into law, a press statement from NEPC said Tuesday.

This legislation will take effect fifteen days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Castro reassured central Negros consumers that there would be no scheduled long power interruptions once NEPC begins operations.

He also announced an amnesty program for those with illegal connections.

“We definitely won’t have any scheduled long power outages,” Castro emphasized.

Recent scheduled power interruptions over the weekends were part of ongoing rehabilitation efforts, Castro explained.

“We are doing joint rehabilitation works with Ceneco,” he added.

Castro noted that facility temperature scans revealed some areas where heat levels reached 200 to 300 degrees, while the acceptable level for electric facilities is only 60 degrees.

He stressed the urgency of addressing these issues immediately, which Ceneco management has allowed.

Future scheduled power outages will continue as part of rehabilitation efforts, but none will occur once NEPC takes over, he assured.

Castro highlighted that these procedures were successfully implemented by NEPC’s sister company, MORE Power, in Iloilo.

Additionally, Castro announced a one-month amnesty program for those with illegal connections, offering no back billing or penalties.

NEPC can accommodate over 10,000 illegal connections in the Ceneco franchise area, where more than 6,000 illegal connections have been identified in early mapping operations.

“Come forward and process it because after this, we will take necessary actions,” Castro said.

He also assured that NEPC would reduce power rates once in operation, stating, “We will not increase the Demand Side Management (DSM) charge regardless of the total electricity charge.”

NEPC emerged from a Joint Venture Agreement between Ceneco and Enrique Razon’s Primelectric Holdings Inc., now known as Negros Power.

As for the franchise, Castro said it was already sent to Malacañang for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature. Unless vetoed, it is expected to lapse into law.