The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has completed its field inspection and data gathering as part of its investigation on the series of pole fire incidents in Iloilo City.
ERC said parties concerned have been summoned as the findings of its technical team will be presented today, November 18, and will be released publicly.
Agnes Devanadera, ERC chairperson and chief executive officer, said an inspection team was dispatched in the first week of November in response to the letter-complaint filed by Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo Treñas regarding the incident and asked Panay Electric Co. (PECO) to submit a written comprehensive report.
“It would be prudent for the Commission to evaluate and analyze the situation surrounding the reported pole fire incidents in PECO’s franchise area wholistically and not on a per incident or asset basis. The way that the poles are maintained over the years and the remaining useful life of the poles also need to be looked into,” Devanadera said.
The Bureau of Fire Protection has reported to the ERC that 1,464 cases out of 2,887 incidents of fire in Iloilo City since January 2014 were caused by pole fires owned by PECO.
