Signing of Power Watch-Ceneco MOU on consumer responsiveness set

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Power Watch-Negros, a consumers’ group here, is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. to make the electric cooperative more responsive to consumer-member-owners.

PWN Secretary-General Wennie Sancho said Tuesday that he and CENECO Project Supervisor/Acting General Manager Atty. Danny agreed in principle that the proposed MOU initiated by the former will be signed in January 2021.

Sancho said they expect the CENECO Board of Directors to approve the MOU.

“The proposed MOU was presented to CENECO President Dwight Carbon and MCISD Chief Roel Venus on Aug. 25, 2020 and Nov. 27, 2020 considering the worsening energy situation, the COVID 19 pandemic, massive unemployment and economic recession,” Sancho added

He also said that there is an urgent need for consultations between CENECO management and consumers to address vital issues and concerns in the power industry to make CENECO more responsive to the needs of the consumer-member-owners (MCOs).”

“The perennial issue of power supply overcontracting was raised by Power Watch Negros.  Atty. Pondevilla responded that he will implement measures to check allegations on ‘over the roof’ demand forecast of CENECO that compelled the consumers to pay for the unutilized energy. Atty. Pondevilla manifested that he will allow a representative from the consumers as an observer in the Competitive Bidding Process to safeguard the interests of the consumers under the principles of transparency and accountability,” Sancho added.

He also said that “The CENECO (acting) GM likewise welcomed the formation of the Power Advocacy Consultative Council (PACC) that shall serve as a venue for the consumers to air their grievances and exhaust all administrative remedies. Power Watch and CENECO, in the spirit of partnership shall encourage all the stakeholders to support the advocacy of PACC, that all issues and conflicts shall be resolved in the bargaining table, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and democratic participation.”

“Power Watch anticipates that the signing of the MOU shall pave the way for transparency between the parties and to ensure that equal protection to the rights and welfare of the consumers be given primordial concern. Power Watch avers that with the appointment of Atty. Pondevilla, it is confident that the alleged corruption involving unused, excessive power overcontracting which is considered as ‘a thorn in the flesh’ of the consumers will finally end. As NEA Project Supervisor, Atty. Pondevilla can do so much urging NEA and DOE to prevent overcontracting,” Sancho said.