By Francis Allan L. Angelo
Iloilo City’s new distribution utility More Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has assured City Hall, residents, and the business community that it will ensure a stable and reliable supply of electricity for the city after finally securing its operations permit.
MORE Power President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Roel Z. Castro made the assurance to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas as he renewed the firm’s commitment to delivering stable, reliable, and affordable power to Ilonggos.
MORE Power also secured its provisional authority from the Energy Regulatory Commission while that of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) was revoked after MORE Power took over and proved its capability to manage the distribution assets.
Castro said that MORE Power is confident of ensuring stable and reliable power supply for Iloilo City as it has secured power supply agreements (PSAs) with three electricity generation companies including the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
Since February 29 when the Iloilo City Sheriff’s Office started implementing the WOP issued by the Iloilo City RTC, the four power suppliers have delivered close to 18 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to MORE Power for distribution to the city’s residential, business and industrial power users, according to Engr. Rey Jaleco, MORE Power Project Development Head.
The utility has also deployed competent technical teams to man the power sub-stations and roving reaction teams all over the city 24/7 to address consumer complaints which reached almost 1,500 or an average of 205 cases since February 28.
The average length of time that it took to restore power service from the time the complaint reached MORE Power is one hour and 58 minutes, with five minutes the shortest time, and eight hours and 44 minutes the longest.
Fifty-eight percent of the calls or posts in social media are about the free installation of new electric meters while the rest were about their area having no electricity or light, and concerns about the meter, pole, and billing.
The new distribution utility has also replaced eight aged distribution transformers of PECO in three districts, including three in the city proper, two in the Arevalo district and three in Lapaz district.
“In order to ensure continuity of services to the consumers of Iloilo City, MORE Power troubleshooters and line teams are mobilized to provide assistance as may be needed,” MORE Power said.
In line with a congressional directive, MORE Power hired 61 former PECO employees. For its operation of the city’s distribution system, MORE Power needs 71 technical and 52 non-technical people.
MORE Power started the process of taking over PECO’s electricity distribution facilities as the new distribution utility after securing the 25-year franchise from Congress in 2019.
PECO’s extended franchise expired on Jan. 19, 2019 after Congress ignored its application due to their alleged violations and complaints from consumers.
Under Republic Act No. 11212 signed on Feb. 14, 2019 by President Rodrigo Dutetre, MORE Power was authorized to take over all distribution assets and other properties whether private or government-owned to it can distribute electricity in Iloilo City.
Since February 29, 2020 (Saturday) to date, MORE Power has been managing all five (5) sub-stations and all-electric meters, power lines, poles, transformers, installations, and distribution equipment throughout Iloilo City.
The sub-stations are the General Luna Sub-station on General Luna Street, City Proper; the Lapaz Sub-station in Barangay Baldoza, Lapaz District; the Jaro Sub-station in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro District; theMandurriao Sub-station in Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao District; and the Molo Sub-station in Barangay Avancena, Molo District.
MORE Power said it has also activated its standby Customer Care Program (CCP), which is divided into four parts:
-MORE Updates which focuses on updating customer information;
-MORE Konek to bring the application process to the barangay for the convenience of the consumers;
-MORE Korek to replace all the “aging” facilities particularly old electric meters to ensure correct meter reading; and
-MORE Kolek which taps scores of third party collecting /remittance centers for the ease and convenience of the consumers in paying for their monthly bills and ensures that there is at least one third party collecting agent per district in the franchise area.
