"IN TERMS of efficient services for the Central Negros Electric Cooperative's (Ceneco) consumers, the Power Watch Negros have high expectations from the Joint Venture Proposal (JVP)."
This was stressed by Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of Power Watch Negros, following reports of a proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) between Ceneco and Power Corporation (MORE Power).
Sancho said as of now, most of Ceneco’s substations were in derelict conditions and were approaching maximum capacity.
"The substation protection features do not include transformer differential protection that protects the power transformers from internal and external faults. There was no calibration of thousands of old and defective meters and to check massive pilferage by unscrupulous consumers," he said.
He added that Ceneco failed to replace its distribution lines and poles with insulated and sturdier ones, including new technology and gadgets.
Sancho stressed that Ceneco should have been fully committed to the upgrading of power infrastructures to meet the needs of consumers.
"Ceneco failed in their task of maintaining power lines which were literally overheating to full capacity...we would like to think that the famers of the JVP have incorporated the complaints we had cited as one of the underlying principles to level up the technical operation of Ceneco as the platform of the JVP, by harnessing modern technology using the geographical information system," Sancho said.
He said they expect that with the combined resources and industry expertise of Meralco and More Power Corp., they will come up with a scheme to reconfigure the system when there are sudden and unscheduled interruptions.
He added that they are looking forward to the fact that the JVP will result in shorter and fewer interruptions because all the components can fill in the void due to efficient technical operations so that if one substation or feeder loses supply, the other facilities can take over and resume supply at the fastest possible time.
Sancho said they are hopeful that the JVP could bring more to consumers by way of a more affordable, reliable, efficient, and stable power supply system.
"If this proposed JVA will deliver the above-stated aspirations of the consumers and will bring progress in our cities and municipalities, there is no reason not to support it. We are consistent in our advocacy to save and protect Ceneco consumers and remove the corrupt and incompetent officers and employees," he said.*