TAGUIG CITY-The Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday (19 May) virtually met with concerned power stakeholders in Albay after receiving reports that electricity services in Rapu-Rapu island were cut-off after accumulating unsettled power bills to the Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC) amounting to over P32 million.
Earlier, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi immediately called APEC and requested for a 48-hour reprieve of the service disconnection to allow for the development of a workable solution among the relevant parties, to which APEC agreed. In addition, upon the Energy chief's instructions, the DOE-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau issued a memorandum on 17 May 2021, directing the National Electrification Administration (NEA), APEC, and the National Power Corporation (NPC) to immediately restore the supply of power in the island.
Secretary Cusi likewise coordinated with Rapu-Rapu Mayor Ronald Galicia yesterday to help resolve the matter and encourage consumers in the area to settle their respective electricity bills.
"It is dangerous to leave our people without electricity access in the midst of the current global health crisis. We cannot have that. Nevertheless, the DOE will be working closely with the concerned parties to arrive at an equitable solution for all," the Energy Secretary stressed.
Undersecretary Emmanuel P. Juaneza presided over the virtual meeting, which was attended by representatives from the NEA, NPC, APEC and Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ALECO). The Undersecretary reiterated the DOE's grave concern over power supply suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the key points established during the meeting were:
• APEC's confirmation that as of 30 April 2021, past due bills of customers from the 2014 to 2021 stood at P32.5 million.
• According to the NPC, in a letter dated 14 May 2021, APEC requested for the total shut down of the Rapu-Rapu and Batan diesel power plants. Thereafter, the Corporation met with APEC officials and asked for the intervention of Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara.
• After receiving the DOE's directive, APEC agreed to restore power for 48 hours while a workable solution to settle the arrearages is determined with the concerned parties.
As an initial step towards finding a solution to the issue, a team to be lead by the DOE-Legal Services (LS) was formed to undertake an immediate review of the Power Supply Agreement between APEC and the NPC. Other members of the Review Team include members of the NEA-LS and the NPC-Small Power Utilities Group.
Once the review's findings become available, all parties will reconvene to determine the way forward.
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