Business World Online
Posted on March 11, 2014 10:07:16 PM
ELECTRICITY distributor in Nueva Ecija has sought regulatory approval for its P18.678-million investment for the repair of facilities damaged by a storm last year, according to a filing released to media yesterday.
Nueva Ecija I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEECO I), in a petition dated Jan. 20, asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to approve its force majeure capital expenditure project due to typhoon Santi (international name: Nari).
The typhoon, on Oct. 11 last year, battered Nueva Ecija and other provinces in Luzon. It had sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour, according to the petition.
“The strong winds and rains devastated NEECO I’s coverage area, including its distribution lines, poles and other facilities,” the petition read, adding that damaged electric posts and cable wires caused blackout for about 11 days and affected 70,000 consumers.
“Gradual restoration of power in the distribution system was implemented as soon as power on the NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) sub-transmission line was restored.”
NEECO I noted that repair and restoration of the damaged facilities cost P18,677,921.89.
“NEECO I does not intend to recover from its customers as the general funds were utilized to cover the cost of restoration and repair of its damaged facilities,” the utility stressed, adding that “the project shall have no impact on the rates to its customers.”
NEECO I distributes electricity in city of Gapan and municipalities of Jaen, San Antonio, Cabiao and San Isidro -- all in Nueva Ecija.
ERC last month reiterated the need of power distributors to restore disrupted electricity supply in their respective franchise areas.
The ERC had said reiteration of the guidelines are necessary because unforeseen circumstances may require revision of affected distributors’ existing capital expenditure plans and loan applications that are pending with the commission. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano source
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