Albay electric co-op gets reprieve from disconnection

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines–Energy Secretary Rene Almendras has asked the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines to hold in abeyance the disconnection of  power supply  to the Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) that was scheduled to be implemented on Wednesday, Sen. Francis Chiz Escudero said Tuesday.

Escudero said the reprieve would allow the newly formed Aleco Interim Board to find ways to settle Aleco’s outstanding electricity bills with the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) amounting to P112.6 million.

Escudero told a press conference that he asked the help of Almendras in negotiating with PEMC so the latter would give Aleco a chance to settle its account.

Quoting Almendras, Escudero said the reprieve was no guarantee, however, that Aleco’s operation would go on without threats of power disconnection from its suppliers.

Almedras told Escudero the new reprieve may last only “for weeks” and that the disconnection may be carried out any time after the lapse of the grace period unless an acceptable solution was found.

The energy secretary asked the Aleco Interim Board to submit proposals on how to revive the ailing cooperative, including identification of new investors who could infuse fresh capital into the venture.

Escudero said Almendras would also look into a proposal on how the interim board would strengthen the financial and technical management capabilities  of the cooperative.

The Aleco interim board is composed of nine members headed by Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi. The members of the Interim Board were installed on Saturday following Aleco’s special general assembly.

PEMC had earlier given the electric cooperative until March 21 to pay its outstanding obligation of P112.6 million for electricity used in the months of December and January or face disconnection from the grid, a deadline which it then extended to March 28.