BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Provincial Board of Negros Occidental approved a resolution opposing the P1 to P2 increase in the price of power per kilowatt hour imposed by the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.
PB Member Renato Gustilo, who authored the resolution, said the increase “is unjustifiable” because it will be at the expense of the consumers.
There is no power shortage in the Visayas, only in Luzon, said Gustilo. “We belong to the Visayas grid. We have abundant electricity here. Why there’s an increase in the power rate here?” he said, adding that the power rate hike should instead be in Luzon where there is a shortage.
Gustilo assailed WESM for imposing the increase without consulting the people. The resolution will be submitted to Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, he said. —Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)