Negrense solon frowns on Ceneco franchise renewal

June 9, 2023

Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano will oppose the franchise renewal of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) in Congress should it fail to form a joint venture with a financially capable private distribution utility (DU).

He would not allow Ceneco consumers to continuously suffer for another 25 years of inefficient service and unreliable power supply, according to Paduano.

“The franchise of Ceneco will expire in 2030. The processing of the renewal of the franchise in Congress should start in 2025. Let’s be frank, I have already spoken, I will oppose it. I can’t take it anymore. Do we want to continue to suffer? For the past several years and even decade that has been proven. The current situation of Ceneco is hopeless,” he added. (https://tinyurl.com/54adret9)

The Negrense solon said that Ceneco is bleeding and lacks the financial resources to improve its services in the coming years or before applying for franchise renewal.

“They cannot develop because their application for CAPEX (capital expenditure) to the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) is being turned down. Second, where can you find DU that is subsidized P20 million a month? How can you rehabilitate, how can you develop?”

Paduano said that if the consumers support and ratify the signed Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between Ceneco and Primelectric Holdings Inc, he will even sponsor the franchise renewal in Congress.