NORECO 2 braces
for EPIRA ‘open access’
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

While Mindanao is experiencing a power crisis, the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative is bracing for the eventual enforcement of the so-called “Open Access” provision of the EPIRA Law, or as the Energy Power Industry Reform Act, that allows industrial consumers to choose their supplier of energy, by September this year.

NORECO 2 has three contestable markets with a consumption of one megawatt, namely Robinsons, Lee Plaza and Silliman University. These markets, however, have the option to continue getting power from the electric cooperative by paying the wheeling charge.

But if they choose to buy direct power from the source, these markets have to put up their own power plants and transmission lines, which is very expensive.

Mayor pushes for return
of power royalty fees
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

Mayor Enrique Gonzalez Jr. of Valencia, in Negros Oriental, said he is hoping that the three solons of the province will push for the amendment of Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, to allow the comeback of the royalty fees previously received from the power transmission and generation companies operating in the province.

Gonzalez said the EPIRA, that was passed during the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was intended, to bring down electricity rates and improve the delivery of power services.

But, he said, this has not been realized despite its implementation, and the removal of the royalties paid by the power utilities the past few years, noting that the cost of power has even gone up over the same period.

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