Poe: Grant franchises to three power utilities
Sen. Mary Grace Poe. FILE PHOTO
SEN. Grace Poe sought the grant of franchises to three power distribution utilities in Leyte, Romblon and Negros Occidental provinces to avert brownouts.
The senator said that as the heat index in the country remains “dangerously high,” there is a need to ensure continued access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, which handles bills granting franchises, said the heat index “is projected to continue rising at the peak of the summer season and amid El Niño.”
“There is no more fitting time than today to present for the Senate’s consideration, three measures that will ensure our power consumers continued access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy,” Poe said.
She sponsored on Tuesday bills that would grant franchises to power distribution utilities Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II), Romblon Electric Cooperative (Romelco), and Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC).
Poe said that the demand is high for distribution utilities to fulfill their obligation as public service providers.
The franchise application of Leyeco II, contained in House Bill 6295, seeks to continue providing power service to the residents of Tacloban City, Babatngon, and Palo in Leyte.
Poe said Leyeco II has “consistently topped the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) overall performance assessment of electric cooperatives since 2015.”