Plan to cut Albay power put on hold

LEGAZPI CITY—Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras has asked the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to hold in abeyance the scheduled cut off of power supply to the Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) that had been set on Wednesday, according to Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Escudero said the reprieve would allow the newly formed Aleco Interim Board to find ways to settle Aleco’s debt with the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), which has ballooned to P112.6 million.

At a press conference, Escudero said he asked the help of Almendras in negotiating with PEMC for PEMC to give Aleco a chance to pay its debts.

Quoting Almendras, Escudero said the temporary reprieve was no guarantee that Aleco’s operations would continue without threat of disconnection.

Escudero further quoted Almendras as saying the reprieve may take effect only “for weeks” and the power disconnection may be carried out any time after the lapse of the grace period.