THE Department of Energy (DOE) sees improved electricity service in Iloilo City as the new distribution utility More Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) begins the rollout of its P1.8-billion modernization program for the city’s aged distribution system.
“We are hopeful but we have to see the improvements for its franchise area,” said Felix William Fuentebella, DOE undersecretary.
Mario Marasigan, DOE director for the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, said the agency will conduct validation work on the modernization program as soon as the enhanced community quarantine is lifted.
Roel Castro, MORE Power president and chief operating officer, assured the city government of Iloilo and the residents the company will work on providing a reliable, safe and cheap supply of electricity.
Castro said the company will complement Iloilo’s economic boom by “investing P1.8 billion to modernize the city’s power distribution system to improve its efficiency, cut systems losses and give Iloilo a more reliable, safer and cheaper electricity supply than they got from the previous utility.”
Castro said the company will start with the replacement of all electric meters in the city with new meters that have been approved and passed the standards of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to reduce the technical systems losses.
As of last year, the old distribution firm in the city recorded systems losses of 9.03 percent, way above the 6.5 percent cap that could be charged to customers set by the ERC for privately-owned distribution utilities, he added.
