The Negros Occidental Capitol has slashed its electricity costs by more than half following a strategic shift to solar power and a comprehensive rehabilitation of its electrical wiring, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Friday, March 6.
This transition aligns with recent directives from Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, who advised government offices on Wednesday to adopt energy-saving measures—such as maintaining air-conditioning thermostats at 24°C—to mitigate rising fuel costs driven by the Middle East crisis.
The integration of solar power at the Negros Occidental Capitol, Negros Residences, and the Food Terminal Market of Occidental Negros in Bacolod City in September 2025 has already yielded substantial savings, Diaz said.
Monthly electricity bills that previously reached ₱1.5 million have dropped to ₱700,000, he said.
Diaz said while the Capitol’s total electricity cost was ₱150 million in 2024, the 2025 bill dropped to ₱139 million, marking an ₱11 million drop.
The full economic impact of the solar initiative is expected to be felt in 2026 with an even more significant decrease in costs, Diaz added.
Building on this success, the provincial government is preparing to also transition the Negros Occidental CyberCentre and its hospitals to solar energy, he said.*
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