BANGUED, Abra – Abra might lose power supply again as the AP Renewables Inc. (Apri) issued a fifth disconnection notice to Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco) after the cooperative failed to pay its dues.
The fifth disconnection, which was dated December 17, will take effect at 12 p.m. on December 27.
According to Apri, Abreco’s billing in November has ballooned to P15.3 million and that the cooperative has agreed to settle the payment in installments from December 12 to 24.
The local cooperative has missed the December 12, 13 and 14 payments, prompting Apri to serve the disconnection notice anew.
On December 10, Apri cut off its supply to Abra but restored it two days after when Abreco paid its monthly P4.9 million dues.
“It is so difficult because Apri’s due date comes earlier than Abreco’s due date to its consumer-members,” Abreco general manager Loreto Seares Jr.
Abra Rep. Jocelyn Bernos however is optimistic Abreco will be able to avoid a second “blackout”.
Earlier, Seares blamed Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin for allegedly convincing Apri to cut the power supply to make it as a bargaining chip to replace Seares with Bersamin's “anointed one”. The governor belied such accusation.
“As much as we want to continue supplying power to the people of Abra, the continued failure of Abreco to follow its obligations has forced us to issue this fifth disconnection notice,” said Juan Alfonso, Apri senior vice president.