By Arjay Allado
The beginning of the year saw Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) reducing its residential rate to P12.0862 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
This meant a reduction of P1.1555/kWh for January 2025. In comparison, the rate for December 2024 was P13.2417/kWh.
In total, CAPELCO reduced its rate to more than P2/kWh for the past two months. The rate in November 2024 was P13.2417/kWh.
CAPELCO General Manger Engr. Edgar Diaz attributed the decrease of generation costs by P22.8 million.
Diaz particularly cited the lower costs of suppliers such as Green Core Geothermal Inc., Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC), GN Power Kauswagan Ltd. Co. (GNPK), and from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
Another factor is improvement of CAPELCO’s facilities that kept systems loss charges low.
Diaz hopes the Department of Energy (DOE) can speed up implementation of additional integration of renewable energy sources, which can lower power costs.
On power interruptions
CAPELCO reiterated it does not want power interruptions as it causes customer complaints and an indicator of poor service.
But Diaz pointed out that there are legitimate reasons including removing animals getting stuck on CAPELCO’s power lines, bad weather or preventing electrical overload.
As for scheduled power interruptions, these are mainly for maintenance. Diaz said maintenance is not only by CAPELCO, but even other power players such as power suppliers or the transmission lines of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Diaz noted that CAPELCO even requested the NGCP to defer its plans of power interruption last December 2024.
With this, Diaz is already asking the public for understanding as several maintenance activities are scheduled this month.
