Power utility modernizes operations, cuts rates

Sunstar Cagayan de Oro
Friday, October 10, 2014

WHILE Cagayan de Oro Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) modernizes its operations, it is also implementing reduction of its rates by .26 centavos for residential consumers starting this October.

“Actually we have been reducing it in the past years, and this recent reduction is due to the new equipment and modern technologies that the company has applied resulting to faster and more efficient work, so mas dali na ang trabaho, mas daghan na mahimo. The computerization sad, easier na ang process and because of that we were given incentive kay nakita nila nga maayo atong performance,” Marilyn Chavez of Cepalco, said.

She also emphasized that the implementation of new technology in the company has resulted to the reduction of the operational costs, thus, the benefits being evident to the consumers.

David Ansaldo, 52, a resident of Carmen in the city, said that his monthly bill ranges from P120.00 to almost 200 pesos. Ansaldo lives alone and his main use of electricity includes radio, household light, refrigerator and sometimes his electric fan.

“Ako ra isa ga puyo sa amo kay akong mga anak, na minyo naman sila. Maayo na lang gyud ni maka tabang kaayo kay gahatagan ra ko sa akong mga anak ug ang akong negosyo tinda-tinda lang sa balay (I live alone because my children are all married. This (reduction) is a great help since my children provide for my needs and I only sell few basic goods at home),” Ansaldo said.

Chavez also said that commercial consumers would also be charged with a reduction rate of P0.18 centavos.

Perla Mahusay of Barangay Bayabas owns a convenience store. The store’s monthly bill ranges up to P10,000 a month because of the cooling appliances inside her shop.

“So sa akong P10,000, maka discount ko ug mga P1,800, maayo nalang na ui kaysa sa wala jud. Dako na kaayo na nga tabang sa amo nga mga negosyante kay pwede namo na I-gasto sa lain expenses, although nanghinaut mi nga mas munaog pa gyud (So with my P10,000 bill I could get around P1,800 discount. It’s not bad than have nothing at all. It is a great help to us who are in business because we can spend the discount to another expenses, although we hope that it can go down more),” Mahusay said.

The construction of Cepalco’s green building has been ongoing and it is set to be used next year, once the building is ready for occupancy.

Renewable energy

Distributing power at around 69 barangays in the city and other municipalities in Misamis Oriental, the power firm has also been applying renewable energy in its years of operations.

In the upcoming '3rd Mindanao Congress of the advocates for Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification and Development', it will tackle innovative solutions for the power crisis in the country, advocates are aiming to mainstream renewable energy, green architecture to the public, which is said to be the key to sustainable energy in the Philippines.

Green buildings are gaining popularity and attention in Cagayan de Oro.

Power experts and advocates of renewable energy hope that in the coming years, renewable energy will be embraced in the country to lessen the hazardous effects of coal and oil to the population’s health and environment. source