Beneco open to private biz for power projects

By Dexter A. See

BAGUI0 CITY – The Benguet Electric Coop. is open to entry of the private sector in its franchise area to help energize unviable areas.

Beneco general manager Gerardo P. Verzosa bared this saying cooperative is also willing to give up viable areas to interested private sector groups, provided that the companies wanting to do so will offer cheaper power rates compared to prevailing rates being charged to the consumers by the electric coop.

“Aside from reliable distribution system and quality power, the bottom line for those private sector wanting electric cooperatives to waive viable areas is to lower power rates for the benefit of our increasing number of consumers,” Verzosa said.

Verzosa and Beneco officials recently attended the public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Energy in Pasay City in relation to implementation of the government’s Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) to fully energize the country at the end of the present administration’s term.

Versoza said there was need for government to increase subsidy it is providing electric cooperatives for energization of unviable areas within their franchise areas.

If ECs will be obliged to solely handle implementation of rural electrification programs in their franchise areas, power rates will likely increase because consumers would shoulder the expenses incurred in the implementation of the energization programs, he said.

He agreed with executive director Janine Colingan of the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA), in her stand that energization of unviable areas should be in partnership with ECs, government and private sector because of importance of the pooling of available resources to bring electricity to the countryside.

According to him, rural electrification is a continuing endeavor of the government because sitios continue to sprout annually due to the increasing number of people wanting to establish their residences in various parts of the country.

The implementation of rural electrification programs is part of the government’s mandate lodged under the National Electrification Administration and the ECs through linkages with private sector.

               Verzosa said there is need for renewable energy companies wanting to help in the implementation of energization of unviable areas to make sure that the investments being infused to bring power to the countryside will not mean higher power costs for the people or charged to subsidies under the universal charge for missionary electrification component of the rate because all consumers in the country will be paying for the cost of electrification of the unserved and underserved areas in the country