DOE urges AFP, PNP, NBI to pay millions in electricity debt

DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOHN PAUL R. AUTOR

The Department of Energy (DOE) urged several government agencies on Tuesday to pay P17-million in electricity bills owed to electric cooperatives so that these could better serve the public.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi urged the government agencies to settle their accounts with 23 electric cooperatives, saying the operations of the power utilities could be adversely affected.

The DOE said it had coordinated with the respective heads of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Coast Guard, and National Bureau of Investigation on the settlement of the accounts, totaling to P17 million.

“As we’ve been pushing for massive electrification, energy efficiency and security of the country, I am pleading on behalf of the distribution utilities for the concerned government institutions to settle their outstanding accounts,” Cusi said in a statement.

“Being part of the government, we need to be earnest in pursuing energy-resiliency and efficiency. In order to attain our energy goals, it is important that we are all able to uphold our commitment to our stakeholders and service providers,” he added.

The department said it would closely monitor distribution utilities and government institutions in fulfilling their respective responsibilities. /cbb