2,497 households now have electricity: errant Ifugao power users warned of disconnection

By Daniel Codamon

LAGAWE, Ifugao--  A total of 27,678 households in this province now have electricity based on records of the Ifugao Electric Coop even as it said it would now strictly implement disconnection of electricity of errant power users,

Ifelco records bared there were  2,497 household  connected   with  electricity  in 2013 under the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) of the government.

As of 2012, Ifelco   had 25,181 household connections.

Ifelco general manager Jaime Pe Benito said Ifugao has potential  households of 39,479 power users. 

He urged prospective power users to take advantage of the SEP  which provides  free kilowatt hour meter, 30 meters of service drop and P2,500.00 worth of house wiring materials. This  is available until the end of the program in 2016.

About 163 sitios  in 11 municipalities  are  targeted  for electrification under the SEP.

Ifelco also urged member-consumers to pay electric bills promptly to avoid disconnection and the payment of reconnection fees.

The electric coop said it shall strictly implement    disconnection and reconnection of power service policy.

The policy provides disconnection of electric service of member consumers shall be done upon non-payment of electric bills, illegal use of electricity or pilferage, upon lawful orders of government agencies or the court, when public requires, upon request of the registered consumer and allowing other end-users to be connected to be connected to their electrical installations whether for profit or not.

Reconnection takes effect within 24 hours after the payment of the electric bills, arrears, penalties, meter seal, 12% expanded value added tax and reconnection fee of P157.92 for residential consumers and P269.92 for commercial consumers to IFELCO.

Consumers are given 12 days to settle their electric bills after receipt of the Statement of Account which shall also serve as the Disconnection Notice and the consumers who fail to pay within the 12-day period shall be disconnected from their power supply.