If Veco can’t solve problem, let’s tap power from SM

A POWER supply problem at the South Road Properties (SRP) irked Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who now wants to tap from a developer’s power source to keep the streets there lit at night.

Rama said the Mambaling access road to the SRP is “a very important” thoroughfare and should be well lit to avoid road accidents and prevent crimes.

Power supply to street lamps on both sides of the access road has reportedly been problematic since last year. Some residents and motorists complained that the lamps have not been lit for over three weeks now.

The Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) supplies power to SRP’s utilities and buildings.

During his news conference yesterday, Rama ordered City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete to request SM Prime Holdings Inc. if the City Government can tap from their power supply.

SM Prime is the developer of SM Seaside City, which is being constructed on a lot beside the access road. Veco also provides power supply to SM’s construction site.

“Why is it that SM does not have a problem with their power supply? So let’s just connect to their line so we can get rid of this headache. I have asked Veco to act on this countless times and it’s still a problem. If this keeps on happening, then let’s just connect to SM,” Rama said.

When asked if the City Government will pay SM Prime for the electricity consumption, the mayor said this can be discussed later.

“What’s important now is public service,” he said.

Poblete said that based on their records, 18 incidents of power supply “tripping” have been reported to Veco since last year.

University

The Mambaling access road is an alternative route to N. Bacalso Ave. from downtown Cebu City. One end of the road leads to a university and a slum area.

In a phone interview yesterday, Theresa Sederiosa, Veco’s communications manager, confirmed that power supply to the street lamps have tripped several times last year, once in February and last Monday due to illegal connections.

She explained that Veco’s power lines are designed to handle only the exact load a particular establishment or household requires.

“Once that load increases, in order to retain the integrity of the line and to avoid overloading, which can cause a fire, power supply automatically trips. When this happens, it means there is unusual activity in the load. And in that area, illegal wire tapping is very rampant,” Sederiosa told Sun.Star Cebu.

She said that Veco sends a crew to repair the lines each time City Hall reports a power supply failure, but as soon as electricity is restored, residents would illegally tap from the line again.

As of yesterday, Veco is still repairing the power lines on the Mambaling access road.