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Saturday, September 18, 2004
Benguet power up by P1 per kwh as of Sept. 26
By Jane Cadalig
BAGUIO CITY -- Effective September 26, the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) will start collecting an additional P0.9798 for every kilowatt-hour of electricity from its consumers.
Gerardo Verzosa, general manager of the electric cooperative, said they only raise their rates when the National Power Corporation (Napocor) increases its rates.
"It is not Beneco that is raising the rate, but rather, the Napocor."
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) earlier authorized Napocor to increase its rates effective September 26 this year.
As a result, distribution utilities like the Beneco, which are being supplied by Napocor, would also have to increase their rates "in order to pass the (added) costs to their (respective) consumers."
ERC said distribution utilities will not earn any additional profit from the increase.
Napocor earlier requested the ERC for a power generation rate increase of P1.87 per kilowatt-hour. ERC approved Napocor's request but reduced the power corporation's proposed increase by 40 percent or to only P0.9798 per kilowatt-hour.
The order granting Napocor provisional authority to implement the increase was issued on September 3.
Napocor's new generation rates will vary from one power grid to the other. Luzon will increase its rates by P1.2318 per kilowatt-hour, Visayas by 0.2202 and Mindanao by P0.2665.
Since the order was provisional, the ERC said the Napocor could be directed to refund power consumers later on if it was later determined that the approved raise was higher than what should have been authorized.
Verzosa, meanwhile, reported that customers who use electricity of below 45 kwh per month are entitled to lifeline discounts.
Consumers with a monthly electric consumption of below 20 kwh are given a 50 percent discount, while costumers consuming from 41 to 45 kwh are entitled to a five percent discount.
He added that discounts are shouldered by customers consuming more than 45 kwh at a cost amounting to P0.06 per kwh.
(September 18, 2004 issue)
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