By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY—The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) through a Notice of Resolution dated October 16, 2024.
With the issuance of the CPCN, Engr. Leomel Tambanillo, assistant vice president for the Sitio Electrification Program, told Daily Guardian on Thursday that Negros Power will take over full operations of Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s (CENECO) operations effective November 11, 2024.
He added that starting November 16, 2024, all notices such as billing and disconnection will be under the name of Negros Power.
New service connections will also be processed through Negros Power, and all distribution utility (DU) transactions will be conducted at the Negros Power office located in Robinsons building, Bacolod City, Tambanillo said.
Tambanillo noted that billing for power consumption will commence on November 16, 2024. Payments for power consumption before November 16 will still be made to CENECO at its Mabini Street office in Bacolod City.
In a community bulletin posted on its official social media page Thursday, Negros Power announced that with the CPCN, it is authorized to begin operations as a distribution utility for the franchise area.
“As we strive to enhance and simplify our services for consumers, we are pleased to announce that our Customer Care Centers (CCC) will open on November 11, 2024,” the post stated.
Consumers in Talisay City were advised to pay their monthly electric bills through Third-Party Collecting Agents.
“For online payments, we have partnered with BDO, PNB, Metrobank, Land Bank of the Philippines, UnionBank, and Palawan Pay. Please select ‘Negros Electric and Power Corp.’ as the biller,” it noted.
The due date for payments is 10 days from the receipt of the billing invoice.
Any unpaid balance beyond the due date will incur a 2% surcharge plus VAT.
To avoid penalties and disconnection, consumers are encouraged to pay before the due date.
Negros Power assured that its Customer Care team is available to assist with inquiries and support.
Meanwhile, Wennie Sancho, president of the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS), said Thursday that the CPCN grant by the ERC is a welcome development for ACCESS and all power industry stakeholders.
“With the CPCN authorizing Negros Power to take full control of CENECO’s infrastructure, equipment, substations, etc., there is no longer any legal impediment to Negros Power’s full management and operation of this DU,” he said.
Sancho added that Negros Power can now begin rehabilitating substandard insulators and aging transformers to prevent overheating and overloading, thereby reducing power outages.
He emphasized that system losses would significantly decrease with a robust campaign against power pilferage and illegal connections.
“We thank the ERC for granting the CPCN, and we urge consumers to support and cooperate by exercising their rights and responsibilities,” Sancho said.
“From darkness to noonday bright,” Sancho expressed.
He noted that reliable power and efficient services from Negros Power will soon be a reality, bringing hope, peace, and love in time for Christmas. This, he said, could fulfill the company’s promise of “Service beyond power.”
“With the CPCN issuance, this marks a new beginning of extensive preventive and predictive maintenance operations as expected by ACCESS,” Sancho concluded.
