VECO restores power to over 80% of customers

By Alena Mae S. Flores – January 21, 2022, 8:05 pm
from manilastandard.net

Aboitiz Power Corp.’s subsidiary Visayan Electric Co. said Friday it restored electricity supply to more than 80 percent of customers within its franchise area with additional manpower and equipment pouring in.

VECO president and chief operating officer Raul Lucero said in a statement the company re-electrified 394,400 of its 474,182 customers affected by typhoon Odette as of noon on Jan. 21.

“We recorded energy demand at 345.3 MW, which is 88 percent that of the pre-Odette power consumption of 495 MW. It is encouraging to see that power is flowing back into the cities and municipalities that we serve,” Lucero said.

The Energy Regulatory Commission directed VECO to fast-track restoration activities amid allegations of extortion from contractors or volunteers. VECO said it is now turning its attention to address pockets within the city that still do not have power and to expand repair work toward the outskirts of its franchise.