The hearing of the application of Central Negros Electric Cooperative for approval of under-recoveries totaling P414.6 million before the Energy Regulatory Commission in Ortigas, Pasig yesterday, was rescheduled to November 13.

It will also be transferred to Bacolod, Bayan Muna-Negros Occidental chairman Alejandro Deoma, said yesterday.

BM Rep. Neri Colmenares had filed an opposition to the conduct of hearing in Manila saying that it should be held in Bacolod where CENECO and its consumers are based.

CENECO president Arnel Lapore said the transfer of the hearing to Bacolod is advantageous as their witnesses will no longer need to bring the needed documents to Manila.

The cooperative had filed an application for approval of over/under recoveries in the implementation of automatic cost adjustments and true-up mechanisms and corresponding confirmation process, under ERC Resolution No. 16, Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010 on March 26.

ERC had conducted a juridical hearing on the application of CENECO at the firm’s building in Bacolod in June 8, presided over by Orlando Gomez of the ERC.

CENECO’s application, however, was opposed by the City Government of Bacolod and BAYAN Negros, with the intervention of the Social Action Center and other concerned consumer groups.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, representing Bacolod, also filed an opposition on April 25, to the application of CENECO asking ERC to allow it to collect under recoveries totaling P414.6 million.

Lapore had stressed that the under-recoveries totaling P414.6 million, with about P296 million incurred when the WESM was implemented in 2011.

The rest are distributed from 2004-2010 and that part of the P296 million, or about P78 million in line rental was paid by CENECO in February 2011 to the power generators and was not passed on to the consumers.

He said they are optimistic that the ERC will grant their petition because it boost the viability of the cooperative and benefit consumers.*APN

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