Baguio city: The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) achieved a 100.51 percent collection efficiency in April, despite the Department of Energy's directive not to disconnect customers unable to pay their electric bills due to the financial difficulties caused by the fuel crisis in the Middle East.
According to Philippines News Agency, Beneco community relations associate Laarni Ilagan stated, "The majority of our electric consumers paid their bills on time to avoid a surcharge. There were even some who pay in advance." In April, 221,177 bills were processed, demonstrating the community's commitment to timely payments even in challenging times.
Ilagan explained that Beneco retains only 10 percent of each bill payment, with the remaining funds allocated to various charges, such as the wheeling fee of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the power supplier's generation charge. She emphasized the importance of maintaining high collection efficiency to ensure the cooperative can meet its financial obligations and avoid potential penalties or supply disconnections, which could lead to blackouts in Baguio City and Benguet province.
The cooperative, which holds a 'Triple A' classification, operates without a margin for return on investment or profit, unlike private companies. Beneco's general manager, Melchor Licoben, highlighted a significant reduction in systems loss, dropping to 5.31 percent from 7.5 percent over the past three months. This improvement is attributed to a decline in non-technical losses and enhanced billing cycles. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) allows a systems loss of up to 10.25 percent, and a lower percentage translates to reduced costs for consumers.
Licoben also reported a 19 percent reduction in fuel consumption for March and April, aligning with the cooperative's energy conservation efforts amid the ongoing fuel crisis. However, the high global fuel prices have offset Beneco's monetary savings. He urged continued conservation efforts without compromising work quality, noting the uncertainty surrounding the end of the fuel crisis.
