EvEryman Private players’ role in addressing power supply issues

By Victor Caballero

WHEN it comes to change, Filipinos tend to be reluctant and fearful.

This is amidst the fact that change and reform can provide real solutions in addressing decades of societal issues and problems.

And this holds true in the power industry, where many had initially feared and hindered the privatization of electric utilities.

But eventually, these changes had brought in great relief to the public Talking about change and relief, Sen. Grace Poe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, had boasted the benefits experienced by residents in Iloilo City when the franchise of Panay Electric Company (PECO) was not renewed, which paved the way for the entry of new player More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) in February 2020.

MORE Power invested P1.5 billion to replace the ‘ageing, obsolete and dilapidated’ power distribution facilities in Iloilo City.

Hence, in its first year of operation, MORE Power managed to address the frequent brownout, high electricity bill, large system losses, and other power-related problems in the city.

Residents in Iloilo City had experienced a dramatic reduction in their electricity bill – from the previous P13 per kilowatt hour, the power rate significantly dropped to P6.40 kwh, and this is one of the lowest electricity rates in the entire country.

MORE Power’s effort in rehabilitating the power facilities had brought remarkable progress as they were able to address the systems loss factor, illegal connection,