The power that saved CENECO

By Herbert Vego

WHAT if Central Negros Cooperative (CENECO) were still the power-distribution utility in Bacolod City and the rest of Central Negros when super typhoon Tino lashed the island, packing gustiness of up to 220 kilometers per hour?

What if Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) had not come in?

To recall, typhoon Tino’s winds downed transmission and distribution infrastructure across the province.

“Thank God we are no longer groping in the dark.”

This was the usual response we got from residents of the territories (1,455 square kilometers) now served by Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) in the aftermath of the typhoon that swept across its coverage areas: the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, Silay and the municipalities of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.

The damage to the whole distribution network was of such magnitude that it darkened almost all homes and business establishments with no emergency generators.

Even decades-old trees that had withstood the fury of typhoon Odette in December 2021 finally collapsed along with poles and power lines.

Based on data from Negros Occidental’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), typhoon Tino damaged at least 48,290 houses in 16 local government units.

Collaboration with local governments, volunteers, and partner utilities enabled quick clearing of trees, debris, and fallen structures.

Negros Power has emerged out of a joint venture between CENECO and Primelectric. Incorporated on July 31, 2024, it has completed the first year of its five-year rehabilitation toward modernization.

The decision to privatize the Central Negros distribution utility was urgent because it had incurred debts amounting to ₱800 million and was no longer capable of upgrading its obsolete facilities.

Primelectric — the holding company that also owns MORE Electric and Power Corp. in Iloilo City and Bohol Light in Tagbilaran City, Bohol — put up an initial investment of ₱2.1 billion to stabilize its operation.

Under the agreement, Primelectric holds a 70% controlling stake in Negros Power; Ceneco, 30%.

The partnership ended the financial woes of CENECO.

Typhoon Tino triggered quick response from linemen of Negros Power and augmentation teams from sister companies MORE Power, Bohol Light and a private utility in Cagayan; along with workmen from Task Force Kapatid who buckled down 24/7 to “resurrect” dead connections while eager residents were watching and waiting.

Task Force Kapatid (TFK) is a national program involving distribution utilities that sends linemen to help restore power elsewhere.

A quick look at CENECO’s fallen posts made me wonder, what if Negros Power had not come to the rescue?

Typhoon Tino was an eye opener on the need to enable the distribution system to withstand future typhoons.

“A total power outage hit most of Bacolod City and suburbs for three days,” my friend Casiano Mayor told me on the phone.

Mr. Mayor, 80, a former reporter of the British news agency Reuters, owns Marilyn’s Kitchen, a restaurant on Gatuslao Ext. Corner 13th Street, Bacolod City.

“It was business as usual under the sun but with a smaller number of customers,” he said. “But we had to close at night.”

Today’s good news, as relayed to the Daily Guardian by Negros Power Chief Operating Officer Engr. Bailey del Castillo, is that 98.8% of power across its franchise area has been restored.

Negros Power has grown by leaps and bounds, starting from 177,737 customers in August 2024 to around 250,000 today.

“We are on track with our five-year development plan,” NEPC President Roel Castro told us. “By May 2026, we will have completed it.”

Negros Power has now a workforce of more than 400 employees, half of whom used to be regular employees of CENECO.