Once an ailing power cooperative in EV
CATARMAN, Northern Samar-In line with the government’s effort to bring dependable and affordable electricity in the countryside, Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (Norsamelco) has lowered its power rate from P12.27 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to P9.38/kWh effective February this year.
Engr. Hector Tabilisma, Norsamelco general manager, said the 23 percent discount equivalent to P2.85/kWh is attributed to the commencement of a long-term power supply contract procured through Competitive Selection Process (CSP) conducted in 2015 including the 10 electric cooperatives in the region.
“The current power rate is affordable, secure, and reliable that will greatly enhance the investment climate and attract investors,” said Tabilisma.
Tabilisma informed that the power supply contract with GN Power Dinginin Ltd. Company will be for a period of 15 years and the consumers are assured of adequate and dependable power supply.
He pointed out that despite the absence of a board whose members irrevocably resigned on August 2013 following allegations of mismanagement and corruption, the cooperative under the stewardship of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), has steadily climbed up to its current rating of A from D, meaning an ailing electric cooperative in 2014.
The level of operating performance of the cooperatives is assessed and rated by NEA with triple A as the highest and D as the lowest, he said.
Tabilisma is hopeful that Norsamelco, under his leadership, will achieve the highest and unprecedented rating of “AAA” for its 2018 performance for attaining a single digit systems loss of 9.16 percent and a collection rate of 100 percent.
The cooperative was able to restructure its overdue power account with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation and started paying the monthly amortization of P6.28 million sourced from the cooperative savings since November 2018.
(NBQ/TBC/PIA-8, Northern Samar)
