Ilocos norte: Electricity cost in Ilocos Norte was the lowest in Luzon in May, according to the Department of Energy's monthly monitoring of residential rates.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) reported an unbundled residential rate of PHP10.1399 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), marking it as the lowest among all Luzon electric cooperatives and distribution utilities included in the ranking for May. The actual residential electricity rate for the period was recorded at PHP12.2872/kWh.

INEC's general manager, Cipriano Martinez III, highlighted the achievement during a media conference at the INEC main branch in Dingras. He attributed the milestone to a strategic mix of contracts and efficient trading that secured their base load, especially amidst the ongoing oil crisis. Martinez pointed out that while many rates increased, INEC managed to reduce theirs.

Martinez reassured the public of the cooperative's commitment to maintaining a relatively lower electricity rate to foster development in the province, benefiting its more than 190,000 member-consumer-owners. He expressed gratitude for the continued support and trust from the community, pledging that INEC will persist in delivering affordable, quality, and reliable power supply to all households.

INEC has been actively upgrading its facilities to ensure stable power supply. A new substation is expected to be operational in Bangui within the year, following the June 10 energization of a 20-megavolt-amperes substation in Bacarra town, aimed at ending frequent voltage fluctuations in the area. Martinez emphasized that these upgrades are part of INEC's efforts to rebuild its infrastructure, ensuring a stable power supply and attracting more investors to Ilocos Norte.