ALECO supply cut-off enforced

Manila Bulletin 
Published: July 31, 2013 
For failing to settle outstanding obligations of P56 million, the power supply of Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) was cut-off on Tuesday at 12noon, rendering 169,000 customers to suffer brownouts.
In an interview with ALECO acting general manager Veronica T. Briones, she disclosed that they were able to pay P12 million on Tuesday, “but we still have a balance of P56 million.”
She stressed that they were holding meeting yesterday to possibly raise additional cash to pay their creditors via Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), the operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.
“We are hoping that we can raise the amount as required by PEMC for re-connection. We hope to have this resolved by tomorrow (Wednesday),” she said.
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla noted that the government cannot do anything because it is an incumbent obligation of the utilities to pay their suppliers, and failing to do that, they are made aware that the outcome will be supply cut-off which will then render their customers to experience power interruptions.
Briones emphasized that if they would be able to partially pay PEMC on their outstanding obligations, they will adhere to the imposed condition that the top 100 delinquent, non-paying big load customers, will continually be cut-off.
This was echoed by Petilla, stressing that the supply disconnection will remain for these “delinquent customers” until a rehabilitation plan is firmed up for ALECO.
“We have already identified the top 100 delinquent customers and have submitted the list to PEMC,” Briones added.
Setting ALECO into a tip-top operating condition has been a lingering challenge for both the government and the power utility itself. (MMV)  source