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Bacolod City, Philippines Friday, February 17, 2012
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Heads of electric coops
in Negros buck rate hike

BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The presidents of electric cooperatives in Negros Island issued a statement expressing their unified stand against the proposed increase in the Kepco Salcon Power Corp. price by about P0.44/kwh.

The statement was signed by Central Negros Electric Cooperative president Arnel Lapore, VMC Rural Electric Service Cooperative Inc. president Teotimo Ballesteros Jr., Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative Inc.president John Peter Millan, Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative Inc.  president Anito Mercado, and NORECO II chairperson James Fontelo.

The electric cooperatives had  received a letter from Kepco SPC Power Corporation vice president Moon, Jong Woo dated November 25, 2011,  part suggests an increase in KSPC price at about P0.44/kwh (exclusive of VAT) to be passed on to the consumers.

The presidents of electric cooperatives said they are unanimous in opposing the move since the basis of the desired increase is vague and the letter did not elaborate on the reason for  such price adjustment.

The relationship of the parties with Kepco is governed by the contract that  was reviewed and approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission. Any amendments in the contract affecting the tariff have to be approved by the ERC, they said.

The underlying considerations for the proposed amendments have to be presented in a full blown public hearing set for the purpose, they added.

They  also said it is the responsibility of each electric cooperative to protect its consumers against the unwarranted increase.

“We cannot give our consent to any attempt to burden our already burdened consumers with  the high cost of power rates, ” they said.

“While we altogether recognized the significant role of Kepco as power generator in the stability of the power supply in our respective franchise area, we cannot just accede to any desired adverse adjustments in the power rates,” they added.

They also said they are demanding  forabsolute transparency in the computation of the fuel cost, not only with respect to Kepco,  but even with the other power generators with  whom their electric cooperative have existing power sales contract, they  said.*CGS

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