Negros power firm announces 5-year plan to reduce outages
The Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) promises to replace aging substation transformers and power lines to prevent the perennial power outages in its coverage area. It presented its P2.5-billion development plan to officials of Negros Occidental in Bacolod City on September 11, 2024. INQUIRER FILES
BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) has vowed to replace aging substation transformers and power lines to prevent the perennial power outages in its coverage area.
Roel Castro, NEPC president and chief executive officer, presented their P2.5-billion development plan to officials of Negros Occidental, the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, and Bago, and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto at Seda Hotel in Bacolod on Sept. 11.
Under its five-year development plan, NEPC commits to undertake massive rehabilitation work in the first three years and modernization and expansion in the fourth to fifth years.
Castro said the bidding for the NEPC underground distribution system will be in November this year and they expect that the first kilometer along Lacson Street will be completed in May 2025.
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Article continues after this advertisementHe also assured that NEPC’s distribution rates will not increase in the next two years, but stressed that they do not have control over generation rates from power suppliers.
Article continues after this advertisementCastro said they also aim to achieve a 70 percent reduction in system loss contributed by metering inaccuracy in five years.
He said about P250 million will also be spent for their three-year Sitio Electrification Program.
Castro also assured that there will be no power interruptions in Bacolod during the MassKara Festival in October.
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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he will hold NEPC to its word, specifically on its execution of its 5-year development plan.
He also expects cheaper power rates and less power interruptions with the improvement of the NEPC distribution system.
NEPC and the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) earlier entered into a joint venture agreement to augment the financial needs in the rehabilitation and modernization of the electric distribution assets and meet the power demand of the increasing number of consumers.
NEPC starting last August 1 began deploying its personnel to augment the management and operations of the distribution system of Ceneco which NEPC had purchased.
