The Department of Energy (DOE) this morning, called for an emergency meeting with the officials of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), National Electrification Administration (NEA), and the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA) to discuss possible options to help restore the power supply to the Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ALECO). On the heels of ALECO’s compliance to disconnect their top 100 delinquent accounts, Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla requested the reconnection of ALECO from PIPPA and PEMC within the day.

Secretary Petilla likewise disclosed that the request for reconnection was also supported by Albay’s League of Mayor through Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal to settle ALECO’s June 2013 obligations amounting to P19 million within 3-5 days.

However, it was stressed in the emergency meeting that on top of the June 2013 obligations, the cooperative would also have to settle the incoming July consumption billing by August 1, 2013, apart from their outstanding P1 billion debt to PEMC.

Meanwhile, the DOE, as well as the parties present in the meeting, reminds all ALECO’s customers that it continues to consume power from some members of PIPPA.

Therefore, the DOE hopes that ALECO, which is owned and operated by the people of Albay, continues to extend their utmost cooperation and that the Albayanons help contribute to the immediate resolution of the power supply situation in Albay. Likewise, the department emphasizes that non-payment of current accounts and power consumption may still result to power disconnection.