Some power co-ops suspend disconnections

By Jordeene B. Lagare – April 2, 2021
from The Manila Times

Some electric cooperatives (ECs) have suspended disconnection services within their respective coverage areas in consideration of customers amid the pandemic, the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (Philreca) said.

“Our ECs are very compassionate. And the beauty about it is that they also own the cooperative, so they understand, when they have sufficient money, they pay because they pay the generation costs, the transmission charges. After all, if they don’t, that is going to be a huge problem,” said Philreca party-list representative Presley de Jesus.

In addition, lifeline customers or customers with minimal electricity consumption are not forced to pay their bills and are instead asked to pay whatever amount they can.
“However, there are still customers who willingly pay their bills and we welcome them,” de Jesus said.

Last year, power co-ops across the country provided reprieve to their member-consumer-owners on the payment of their electricity bills and were given discretion whether to pay in full or pay in staggered method without interest, penalty, or possibility of disconnection of service.

This was in compliance with the separate directives issued by the Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission aimed at protecting the interest of the public during the coronavirus lockdown, which was first implemented in March.

Meanwhile, Philreca reminded consumers in rural areas to use energy more efficiently, especially during the summer season where electricity demand is expected to spike.

Consumers in those areas, he said, should exercise energy efficiency by unplugging devices, not in use, and minimizing the use of air-conditioners, among others
The organization is actively pushing for its energy efficiency program through what it calls the information, education and communication (IEC) campaign.

“Due to the pandemic where all people are stuck at home, we keep on telling customers to minimize their energy usage,” de Jesus said in Filipino.

“This is what we are trying to impart to our customers especially to those complaining that they lost their jobs yet power bills continue to rise—what they do not understand is that they are mostly at home because of the lockdown,” he added.