Electric co-ops still slow in restoring power to the provinces
By Ray S. Eñano – November 27, 2024, 7:15 pm
from manilastandard.net
Lack of capital impedes the capacity of ECs to respond to disasters.
Fallen electric poles and interrupted power services are the telltale damage of a violent typhoon.
Time and again, electricity supplies in the provinces are disrupted by the strong winds of tropical storms, just like the four successive typhoons that swept Luzon in just over a week this month.
And more often than not, electric cooperatives (ECs) are slow in restoring power to their respective franchises. The poor response from a public service provider like ECs after a disaster is inexcusable—they should be at the forefront of recovery efforts.
Providing reliable and sustained power supply is the mandate of the ECs. This includes restoring electricity immediately to ease the sufferings of typhoon victims.
Typhoons Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito hammered Central and Northern Luzon this month. At least 27 ECs operating in 21 provinces from seven regions, according to the National Electrification Authority (NEA). were affected by these violent storms. The ECs as a result were forced to temporarily shut down their operations, leaving residents and commercial establishment in those areas without electricity for several days.
Restoration efforts from the ECs are snail-paced, with many customers still clamoring for full supply. The NEA estimated the cost of damage to ECs at over P40 million.
Lack of capital impedes the capacity of ECs to respond to disasters. Unlike large distribution utilities (DUs), most ECs in the country have inferior infrastructure and do not have the technical expertise to meet the demands of consumers.
The ECs receive government financial support and technical assistance from NEA to implement and operate approved electrification programs.
In spite of investment efforts to improve their operations and provide better customer service, however, ECs are not ready to respond against calamities.
ECs are taking a longer time to restore power supply in areas where the typhoons made landfall. NEA said even a week after the sky cleared, 314 of 376 municipalities (83.5 percent) covered by the affected electric cooperatives were either fully or partially energized.
Compared in Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces under the franchise areas of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), power was restored immediately. DUs like Meralco have superior technical expertise, experience and a reliable crew to quickly address the situation.
When storms developed into super typhoons, the ECs in contrast were forced to shut down their operations to prevent more damage to their infrastructure.
The ECs, thus, must build robust infrastructure to ensure the provision and distribution of enough energy to power up residents and business establishments, and successfully deal with extreme weather events.
