Provincial Economic Consultant Alfredo " Albee" Benitez has initially met with some electric cooperatives and electric producers in the province in preparation for the Provincial Power Summit that aims to bring down the power cost in the province.
This was confirmed yesterday by Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz as he revealed that the Power Summit could be materialized in the coming month of August.
Benitez said they want to reduce power cost in the province to benefit consumers and allow stable and competitive rates and power supply.
He added that this will encourage more technology industries to invest in Negros.
Benitez said that it seems that Negros generates power that is being underutilized.
He cited that the island produces about 600 megawatts but consumes only 350 megawatts at peak load.
Competitive power rates is attractive to foreign investors especially those in the technology industry that will create more employment, he also said.
Negros Occidental is home to geothermal, solar and biomass plants that produces the most number of megawatts of renewable energy in the country, Benitez said.
MORE Electric and Power Corporation in Iloilo City announced that it has reduced power rates in the city by 35 percent or P6. 46/ kwh from P10.01/ kwh last month.
Diaz also said that Benitez was with provincial consultant Rafael Coscolluela in meeting with the power producers and electric cooperatives.
" Hopefully the power summit will be organized and put into real action within August to study the good approach to utilize the power. We were having a surplus but we cannot feel and enjoy the benefits because it directly goes to the national grid," Diaz said. (TDE)