October 5, 2022 – The City of Bacolod together with the Province of Negros Occidental held an Energy Summit to discuss issues and consolidate the best energy system and solutions to lower the power generation cost occurring in the province and in the city.

Various electric cooperatives, business enterprises, and generation facilities such as CENECO, NONECO, MBCCI, Alsons, Hydrotec, VMC, Isla Sol, PPS-SS, RePower, Biopower and First Farmers have convened in the summit.

The assembly sought geothermal and solar to be the cheapest power resources to reduce the power cost.

Other solutions were also laid out such as the aggregation of requirements from electric cooperatives, possible joint ventures between the government and generators, and forming a technical working group from local stakeholders for an optimal and effective long-term arrangement for electricity regulation and distribution.

Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez noted that power cost can possibly be reduced “by 3 pesos” through continuous communication like the said summit and consistent access of generation of electric cooperatives.

Rate increase can be attributed from the higher generation, distribution lines, transmission and systems loss charges, and costs of power purchased from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

Along with goal of molding Negros Occidental to become a total renewable energy, the citizens are reminded to be mindful of their power consumption as it is one of the factors that cause power hike as well.
(Source: Bacolod City Public Information Office)