Why MORE cut power supply to PECO building

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) said it cut power supply to the building of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) on General Luna Street, Iloilo City for lack of a meter.

In a statement, MORE Power said it sent a notice to PECO advising the firm to have a meter installed in its building to record its consumption.

The Razon-led firm said PECO cannot enjoy free electricity since it is no longer a distribution utility.

To recall, the Energy Regulatory Commission has revoked the provisional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) of PECO while its building was excluded from the assets turned over to MORE Power on orders of the Regional Trial Court.

With the said orders, PECO’s building is considered a private establishment that must have an electric meter just like any ordinary building.

MORE Power said it is now the legitimate power distributor in Iloilo City after securing its congressional franchise and CPCN.

Apart from the PECO building, MORE Power also sent notices to four members of the Cacho family, owners of PECO, after it was found out that they were not paying for their electricity supply.

According to MORE, the service drops in the four Cacho households in City Proper and Jaro districts lack electric meters.

It was also found out that a meter in one of the Cacho houses is charged to PECO but paid for by consumers, which is a violation of Republic Act No. 7832 or the law against the Illegal Use of Electricity.

MORE Power told the Cachos that they must apply for service connections or else they will lose their electricity supply.

It is unfair for consumers if PECO and the Cachos don’t pay because their consumption will be charged as systems loss which is shouldered by consumers.

“PECO is not a distribution utility anymore kaya hindi na sila pwedeng magpalibre. They are using electricity without meter so there is no recording of their billing. That’s illegal use of electricity and MORE is has the right to stop them. It will be unfair to law abiding and legitimate consumers kay i-charge na sa systems loss,” according to MORE Power president and COO Roel Z. Castro.

Castro said MORE must treat PECO just like any other consumer.

“Panawagan ng konsumidor na i-eradicate ang jumpers kaya dapat unahon ang (PECO) building nga malapit sa substation sa General Luna. MORE is very much willing na kabitan sila ng metro being the legitimate DU sa city,” he added.

Castro said that for a legitimate and legal DU, the ERC allows a 1% usage for common facilities that serve the consumers such as offices and substations.

“Peco and the Cachos enjoyed that before. But now that is MORE na ang legit and legal DU, that privilege of Peco has to stop kay unfair na to consumers. Kaya MORE disconnected their office because it is PECO’s and hindi na sila ang legit and legal DU.”

Castro said MORE disconnected the power supply to PECO building last Saturday towards midnight “para wala so much interruption sa kanila.”