Electric cooperatives (ECs) across the country posted lower national average system loss in the first six months of 2019 that resulted into a 13 percent growth in energy sales.
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said system losses of the ECs improved by 10 percent from 11.57 percent in the first semester of 2018 to 10.38 percent in the same period this year, which is way below the Energy Regulatory Commission’s allowed system loss cap of 12 percent for ECs.
NEA said from a total of 121 ECs nationwide, 96 posted a within-the-cap system loss set by ERC while 39 ECs registered single-digit system loss and the remaining 15 ECs had a double-digit system loss of 13 percent to 20 percent.
In the same period last year, 31 ECs experienced a double digit system loss.
“This is a clear indicator that electric cooperatives are fully committed and ready to compete with other power distribution utilities in the country. Lower system losses contribute to a reduction in power rates,” said Edgardo Masongsong, NEA administrator.
NEA also said 14 regions registered reduction in system losses.
Total energy sales of the ECs reached 11,397 gigawatthours (GWh) against last year’s 10,060 GWh as national gross revenue improved to P112.121 billion from P98.741 billion.
Apart from lower system loss, higher sales were also driven by the increased consumption of residential sector at 5,951 GWh followed by commercial sector at 2,515 GWh, industrial sector at 1,634 GWh, public building at 588 GWh, and other consumers at 709 GWh.
The 10 ECs that registered the lowest system loss were Aurora Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 2.03 percent; Batanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 2.79 percent; Leyte II Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 2.91 percent; South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 2.91 percent; Misamis Oriental I Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. at 2.99 percent; Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 3.74 percent; Cebu III Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 3.88 percent; Bohol I Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 6.20 percent; Iloilo III Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 6.27 percent; and Surigao del Sur I Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 6.38 percent.
