‘Bring down power rates in rural areas’

BAGUIO CITY — The country’s electric cooperatives are blaming the Department of Energy for not reducing electric rates of rural household users despite the power reform law.

The electric cooperatives have banded together to form a coalition called "Emancipate Power Co-ops!" or Empower and launched here yesterday a one-million signature campaign to compel the Arroyo administration to bring down electricity rates in rural areas and to fully implement the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).

"We are dismayed at the Department of Energy’s failure to implement a loan condonation program that will guarantee the reduction of rates among the 5.5 million rural household electric consumers," said Gerardo Verzosa, general manager of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) and national director of the party-list group APEC (Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives).

Empower convenor and APEC Rep. Ernesto Pablo is urging rural power consumers to fight for their rights to enjoy reduced rates by supporting the campaign. — Artemio Dumlao