Electric cooperatives (ECs) have lauded Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi for urging government agencies to settle their electricity bills, saying that the timely payment of the agencies’ obligations would allow the ECs to properly service their franchise areas.
Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) Executive Director Atty. Janeene Depay-Colingan on Sunday said that PHILRECA, its allied organizations and the country’s 121 ECs are “grateful that the DOE Secretary is urging government agencies to settle their debts with electric cooperatives and distribution utilities.”
Depay-Colingan explained that military and law enforcement agencies were reported to have incurred millions in unsettled obligations with power distribution utilities nationwide.
This has prompted Cusi to urge these government offices to communicate with their respective heads to ensure the payment of these debts.
“As we’ve been pushing for massive electrification, energy efficiency and security of the country, I am pleading on behalf of the distribution utilities (DUs), including the electric cooperatives, for the concerned government institutions to settle their outstanding accounts,” said Cusi.
According to Cusi, bills have to be settled as soon as possible as “DUs and ECs collect revenue to generate cash flow that would enable them to provide efficient and sustainable services to the areas they serve.”
The Cabinet official added that the DOE has coordinated with the respective heads of the pertinent government agencies on the settlement of the accounts, which amounts to P17 million.
Depay-Colingan stressed that “in line with the aim of DOE and Sec. Cusi to have energy resiliency and efficiency, the electric cooperatives are doing their best efforts to provide rural electrification throughout the country.”
“In line with the aim of DOE and Sec. Cusi to have energy resiliency and efficiency, the electric cooperatives are doing their best efforts to provide rural electrification throughout the country.”
“This is despite the budget cut on sitio electrification program amounting to P635 million, which could be used for additional funding for the electrification efforts of ECs,” she added.
“PHILRECA and other electric cooperatives are working hand in hand in energizing the countryside and are committed to giving the consumer affordable, efficient, and sustainable electricity.”
“PHILRECA and other electric cooperatives are working hand in hand in energizing the countryside and are committed to giving the consumer affordable, efficient, and sustainable electricity.”
