FOR consumer group Power Watch Negros Advocates, the drop in power rate of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) for the month of June is at least a timely relief amid the pandemic.
Its secretary general Wennie Sancho, however, said it will not stop them from seeking a dialogue with the power distribution utility.
"The reason why we have not filed any legal action is to respect the agreement during the public hearing that Ceneco will attend to the complaints of the consumers by reading their meters," Sancho said.
Power Watch does need to rush so as not to muddle the issue, he added.
On Tuesday, the cooperative announced a drop of P0.9207 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in its residential power rate this month.
From P11.1923 per kWh in May, its power rate went down to P10.2716 per kWh in June.
The rate reduction is mainly attributed to the decrease in the fixed cost component of the power supply contract with Kepco Salcon Power Corporation (KSPC), as well as lower price in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
Ceneco caters to the largest number of electric consumers in the province including cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.
Power Watch along with other consumer and labor groups earlier claimed that the increases in the power rates of the cooperative including those during the "lockdown" period are arbitrary and unreasonable.
Also, they are not satisfied of the computation made by the utility as they claimed that even their bills have spiked to an "unbelievable" level.
In May alone, the power distribution utility reported an increase of P0.53 per kWh compared to P10.6608 per kWh in April.
Ceneco, in an advisory, said it is attributed to the upward movement in the generation, transmission and systems loss charges.
The generation, transmission and systems loss charges which comprise the biggest portion of the pass-through charges increased by P0.4850 per kWh, it added.
Thus, the groups are asking Ceneco to refund its consumers and sought for a dialogue with the management.
Sancho reiterated that the cooperative should be the one to initiate a dialogue with the consumers and be able present clearly how they came up with such "sudden increase."
"If they fail to do so, we will raise this complaint to the Presidential Complaint Center, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) or even hold a rally," he earlier said.
The cooperative, for its part, has clarified that its monthly power rates are computed in accordance with the approved guidelines of the ERC.
Ceneco also explained that the rate increase in May which covers the energy consumption during the Enhanced Community Quarantine, or during portions of April and May, is mainly attributed to the reduction of total energy consumption during the period.