The House Committee on Energy is expected to conduct an inquiry on the high power rates and frequent power interruptions in all serviceable areas of the Central Negros Cooperative (CENECO) in November, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said on Thursday, October 27.
Gasataya said he and Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) co-authored House Resolution 475 seeking the inquiry.
“It was filed October 10, it will be referred to the Committee on Energy as soon as our (House) sessions resume,” he said.
The inquiry, in aid of legislation, will be scheduled in November according to Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque, Lone District) who chairs the Committee on Energy, Gasataya said.
He pointed out that the Bacolod City Sangunniang Panlungsod Committee on Energy also held a public hearing to address various issues against CENECO, including the ERC’s ordered refund for over-recoveries and frequent massive power outages in its service area.
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez launched an online complaints desk for power-related concerns on August 30 and within ten hours, 69.3 percent of the complaints were about the high cost of electricity, and among the top complaints were CENECO’s unscheduled brownouts, the rise of day-long brownouts and sudden power disruptions, Gasataya added.
CENECO provides electricity to Bacolod, Bago, Silay and Talisay cities, and the municipalities of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.*