Veco assures reliable power come May polls

CEBU, Philippines — Amid the looming power shortage this summer, Visayan Electric Company, Inc., gave the assurance to deliver reliable power distribution days prior to the elections, on the election day, as well as during the counting and tallying of ballots.

The election is scheduled on May 9, 2022, for executive and legislative branches of the government – national, provincial, and local, except for the barangay officials.

“There is a possibility of a power shortage if and when there are unscheduled power outages on the part of the power generation companies and the transmission line. Visayan Electric cannot control power generators and NGCP [National Gid Corporation of the Philippines],” said Visayan Electric President and Chief Operating Officer Raul Lucero.

Lucero explained that power shortfall is usually expected during summer months due to high temperature and humidity.

“Historically, power requirements during the summer months are really high,” Lucero explained.

But the Aboitiz-led power distribution firm further assured that as it promised the Department of Energy (DOE), its distribution network will deliver reliable power especially days prior to the elections, on Election day, as well as during the counting and tallying of ballots.

Meanwhile, Visayan Electric also sends out a warning to power consumers that the Russia-Ukraine war may put pressure on electricity rates in the coming months.

“There is a big possibility that power rates will be affected by the Russia-Ukraine war because fuel prices are greatly affected by world market prices, as we have seen now with the effect on gasoline prices,” he added.

Last Monday, DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the price increase in diesel should be less than P12 per liter and below P7 per liter for gasoline.

“That is because of the correction in the world oil price market during the Thursday and Friday trading,” Cusi said.

With the crisis on oil prices, the energy chief said his agency is reviewing the pricing policy and pricing formula that are being used, and will also evaluate the fuel value chain as part of its ways to ease oil price hikes.

“We requested for staggered increase. We even requested if they can lessen —the industry take(s) the sacrifice as we have asked our consumers to do conservation, we ask our industry players to sacrifice and take a cut on the industry,” Cusi added.

According to DOE’s oil price bulletin, year-to-date net increase in gasoline prices stood at P13.25 per liter, P17.50 per liter for diesel, and P11.40 per liter for kerosene.