Transco-Beneco row could plunge Baguio in darkness

BAGUIO CITY — This summer capital and the entire Benguet province, which are serviced by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco), might be in total darkness by July 25.

This, if Beneco fails to reach an agreement with the National Transmission Corp. (Transco), which has threatened to cut off power to the electric cooperative for non-payment of P179 million in underbilled accounts.

Transco earlier sent a disconnection notice to Beneco, but the court issued a 20-day temporary restraining order which will lapse on July 25.

Transco admitted this week that it had installed a defective multiplier in one of its substations, resulting in erroneous billings to Beneco.

Given this error on Transco’s part, Gerardo Verzosa, Beneco general manager, said the least Transco could do is collect the underbilled amount in four years.

"We have been religiously paying our monthly bills on time," Verzosa said.

Last Tuesday, Transco area manager Marcelo Ganaden told the Benguet provincial board that they gave Beneco time to submit a payment proposal.

Verzosa proposed that the Energy Regulatory Commission resolve the matter.