By Lenie Lectura - December 6, 2019
BELEAGUERED power-utility firm Panay
Electric Co. Inc. (Peco) said Thursday it was “surprised” by the probe results
released by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), saying “multiple valid
points” were not taken into consideration by the agency.
“We in Peco are surprised by the
seeming slant that the ERC is taking and we just hope that the ERC will not
allow itself to be manipulated by the propaganda of economic saboteurs and give
Peco a fair assessment,” Peco said in a statement.
The ERC said last Wednesday that it
found “operational lapses” on the part of Peco and has directed the utility
firm to explain the apparent operational lapses found by the ERC’s inspection
team.
“We aim to respectfully clarify the
points brought up in the notice given to Peco since we see that multiple valid
points that were also seen by the ERC ocular inspection team were surprisingly
not taken into consideration in the order given,” Peco said.
Regarding ERC’s claim that Peco’s
protective devices were not properly rated and designed, Peco gave assurances
that it has multiple protective devices with proper ratings and designs for
each of its feeder lines and down to its secondary lines. Moreover, it
explained that the fires that happened didn’t involve Peco’s lines as most of
them are attributed to the improper bundling of telecom and cable lines which
oftentimes short out.
On the failed voltage tests in
certain locations, Peco said the areas with low voltage levels visited by the
ERC ocular inspection team were actually places with electrical pilferage—a
problem that resulted in the dropping of the voltage level due to the
unregistered loads in the areas.
ERC also raised the issue of leaning
poles and those in unsafe positions. “We would like to stress that Peco has a
regular pole replacement and relocation program in place every year in order to
cope with the DPWH projects being implemented around Iloilo City. We also have
maintenance activities in order to straighten certain poles that tend to lean
after some time. This is a year-to-year activity since coordinating with telco
and cable companies take time,” it said.
Peco, it added, has filed for 40
Elevated Metering Center sites during the last regulatory period, contrary to
the ERC’s findings.
Also, contrary to the ERC’s report,
Peco claimed it has been constantly coordinating with the ERC Visayas Head
Office with regard to its documentary requirements in relation to the renewal
of its Meter Shop Certificate of Authority.
“Peco has been trying its best to
abide by the rules and regulations of the ERC despite multiple external factors
beyond our control. We communicated to the ERC that should they need further
clarification on certain matters, we are very much willing to cooperate as we
have been doing so consistently,” it said.
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