WITH the continued economic activities in key cities of Negros Occidental, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) is projecting a bigger power supply requirement next year.
Engineer Leomel Tambanillo, manager of Ceneco Corporate Planning Department, Wednesday, September 20, said huge developments especially commercial establishments rising in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay and Silay will surely result to additional power demand.
Tambanillo said Ceneco has a relatively high purchase growth rate in 2016, at seven percent.
“We have yet to review our forecast but with the growing economic activities in the province, the requirement will most likely grow by even more than seven percent,” he added.
Aside from cities of Bacolod, Talisay, and Silay, Ceneco also caters to electric consumers in Bago City and towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.
Its current demand is almost 155 megawatts (MW), higher than the contracted supply of 119 MW.
Ceneco is getting its base load of 64 MW from Kepco-Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC), a coal-fired power plant in Naga, Cebu.
Three other firms include Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (coal) in Iloilo, supplying 35 MW to Ceneco; Green Core Geothermal Inc. (geothermal), 20 MW; and Energreen Power Development and Management Inc. (diesel), 18.9 MW.
Of the four firms, KSPC’s deal is the first to expire in February 2021. Others are in 2024 and 2031 yet.
Tambanillo said that the shortfall in supply is being addressed by the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), any power requirement outside the bilateral contract is automatically supplied by WESM, Tambanillo said.
“Ceneco still considers contracting additional power requirement from renewable energy sources provided its prices will be competitive with those of conventional power generators,” he added.
Transparency
Ceneco president Roy Cordova said the cooperative for the sake of “real transparency” adheres to the new guidelines set by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
Speaking before the participants of the regular transparency meeting at Ceneco Board Room in Bacolod City yesterday, Cordova said that observers should be present in all bidding process involving procurements amounting to at least P2 million.
Under the Revised Procurement Guidelines and Simplified Bidding Procedure for Electric Cooperatives issued by NEA last July 12 through Memorandum No. 2017-019, “the Bids and Awards Committee shall invite a representative from the internal audit, employees union or association, and duly recognized private group or sector relevant to the procurement as observer during pre-bidding conference towards opening of bids.”
“To enhance transparency, we will invite member-consumers to be part of the bidding process,” Cordova said, adding that Ceneco will also present during the next transparency meeting in October its P8-billion proposed budget for next year.
