MORE Power vows better services

MORE Power and Electric Co. (MORE Power) laid down its transition plan and program before the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Nov 26, 2018 and vowed that they are ready to bring better services to Ilonggos.

“From our point of view, we think that can bring better service. We know how to bring down the rates. We know how to improve the service. We know what are needed to be able to give better service to people,” said MORE Power president Roel Castro.

Castro reported the current state of distribution system which is under its rival firm Panay Electric Company (PECO) and cited problems of dilapidated meters, unsafe height of kwh meters, disorganized service drops, growing vegetation and oil leakage at the substation, leaning poles, and other hazardous facilities.

“Given the current situation, the objectives of MORE Power is to reduce system loss from 9.30% (Distribution Development-Plan- Department Energy) to below ERC systems loss cap, improve reliability from 31.15 times (SAIFI) to Philippine Standard of 2.14 times and 1, 612 minutes (SAIDI) to Philippine Standard of 54 minutes, increase substation capacity such that they do not exceed 70% normal loading (safety standard), and correct unsafe electrical installations,” Castro said.

SAIDI (System Average Interruption Index) is the average outage duration for each customer served and is measured in units of time, often minutes, or hours. SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index) is the average number of interruptions that a customer would experience and is measured in units of interruptions per customer.

Castro also presented programs of MORE Power on reliability improvement, capacity improvement, system loss reduction, safety improvement, and programs on operations and maintenance.

He said willing to spend more or less P700 million in three years to improve electricity distribution services in Iloilo City.

When the council pressed Castro about the benefits of MORE Power as distributor, he categorically said that rates would be reduced and application for lines will be faster and easier.

According to Castro, the current generation rate of the existing distributor is P7.8299 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as of mid-2018 which is P2.50/kWh higher than Manila, Cebu or Davao.

“Even though the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) has been available since 2012, PECO became a direct member of WESM only last July 2018. Despite being member of WESM, no electricity is sourced from WESM even during times when WESM prices are low,” he said.

As part of its rate reduction strategy, MORE will target majority of its power requirement from new bilateral contracts and will source considerable capacity of the requirements from WESM especially when market prices are low resulting to a reduction in the overall electricity cost.

Based on the data, the average selling price of WESM last 2017 is only P3.37/kWh.

Under its customer service program, MORE Power assured customer-friendly billing system, with easier and direct application sites on barangays.

“We will have a 24/7 hotline service in tandem with our quick response team to directly respond to the complaints of the consumers,” Castro said.

Meanwhile, MORE Power added that employees of PECO will be accommodated once they assume franchise.

“Kukunin namin sila if mag-aaply sila. We are open and we leave it to them kung mag-aaply sila,” Castro said.

While, PECO stood firm that it will not sell its assets, MORE Power assured they are financially capable of buying all the assets of PECO.

“If we talk about affordability, it is not a question,” Castro assured.

Assuming cooperation with the existing electrical distributor, Castro said that MORE Power is ready to for the 100% assumption of the power distribution in the city by March 2019.

“As of now we are 50% ready. But we should be ready for 100% assumption on March 2019 assuming cooperation with PECO. We’re here. We’re open. We set aside the financial resources.

It’s ready. Kami we want to give better services kasi nakita ko how we can do it,” Castro said.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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