Capelco urged to lower rates, register with CDA
ROXAS CITY – A former board of director of Capiz Electric Cooperative, Inc (Capelco) urged the management to lower its power rates and register with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for the benefits of its member-consumers.
This, Engr. Ernesto Bulilan told Capelco General Manager Edgar Diaz and other board of directors during the committee hearing presided by Board Member Baden Cantiller yesterday at the session hall of the Capiz provincial capitol.
Engr. Bulilan said once the electric cooperative is registered with CDA, the member-consumers could avail the patronage refunds and it could lower its rates since it is owned by them.
The former board of director also accused the electric cooperative of so many lapses, substantial expenditures, corruption and most of all, poor services, however, such allegations were answered and denied by Diaz and Board of Directors president Oscar Acolentaba.
Diaz said Capelco could not be registered with CDA unless it is confirmed by member-consumers in which according to him, the proposal of being under CDA was opposed by them during the latest public hearing.
He added that the power rates increase could not be implemented without the approval of the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC).
As to the substantial expenditures, Diaz clarified that the electric cooperative spent some P50 million during the rehabilitation of lines destroyed after typhoon Frank last year.
On other hand, Acolentaba also clarified that there are 119 electric cooperatives nationwide but only 11 are registered with CDA.
“If registering with the CDA is good for electric cooperatives, why only 11 of the 119 cooperatives have registered?,” Acolentaba asked.
Acolentaba also said the increase in power rates is inevitable due to the government’s move to privatize NAPOCOR, Transco, etc.
Meanwhile, Bulilan appealed that Capelco should refrain from having frequent brownouts and should payback its member-consumers with good service.
He refuted that the public hearing conducted by Capelco was not attended by many member- consumers but mostly by Capelco employees.