CENECO-Primelectric JVA: A Win-Win for Consumers and CENECO

Why You Should Vote YES on the CENECO JVA with Primelectric/Negros Power

CENECO, the power distributor for Negros Occidental, is in crisis. The company is heavily indebted, its infrastructure is outdated, and it is losing money. If CENECO does not receive help soon, it will be forced to file for bankruptcy.

• CENECO’s debt to the National Electrification Administration, banks, and other creditors has reached over 600 million pesos.
• CENECO last invested in new equipment, upgrading, and modernizing facilities was in 2011.    
• CENECO’s distribution infrastructure needs to be updated, with overloaded substations and transformers, numerous damaged wooden poles, and unreliable power lines and meters.    
• CENECO is incurring losses of around 20 million pesos per month due to high system losses of up to 11%.    
• CENECO’s franchise will expire in 2030.

The CENECO Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Primelectric/Negros Power is the best way to save CENECO and protect consumers. Under the JVA, Primelectric will provide CENECO with 1.7 billion pesos to help it settle its debts and upgrade its infrastructure. This will lead to improved electricity service and lower electricity costs for consumers.

Here are some of the benefits of the CENECO JVA:

• Primelectric will provide 1.7 billion pesos in cash to help CENECO settle its debts, avoid bankruptcy, and continue providing electricity to consumers.
• Primelectric will finance the repair, replacement, upgrading, and modernization of CENECO’s distribution facilities. This will improve the reliability of CENECO’s power grid and reduce the number of power outages.
• Primelectric will implement a 5-year development plan to enhance CENECO’s substation and transformer capacities, replace wooden poles with concrete ones, upgrade primary lines, install digital meters, improve response times, and reduce unplanned power outages. This will lead to a significant improvement in the quality of electricity service for consumers.
• The system loss passed on to consumers will be capped at 5.5%, as the Energy Regulatory Commission allows. This means consumers will not have to pay for the company’s inefficiency.
• Negros Power will seek a congressional franchise wherein CENECO will have a 30% share. This will ensure that CENECO will continue to be owned and controlled by the people of Negros Occidental.

The CENECO JVA is a win-win for consumers and CENECO. It will lead to improved electricity service and lower electricity costs for consumers. It will also help CENECO avoid bankruptcy and continue providing electricity to the people of Negros Occidental.

Plebiscite Dates and Locations

The Plebiscite to approve the CENECO JVA will be held on the following dates:

• August 19, 20
• August 26, 27
• September 2, 3

The Plebiscite will be held at designated schools in all municipalities and cities in Negros Occidental.

How to Vote

To vote in the Plebiscite, you must be a registered voter in Negros Occidental and a consumer of CENECO. You can vote in person at your designated polling place or by absentee ballot.

If you cannot vote in person, you can appoint a proxy. 

Proxy forms are available at the CENECO JVA booth in the following locations:

• SM City Mall
• Ayala Mall
• Robinsons Mall
• City Mall
• Gaisano Mall
• 888 Mall
• Bacolod Old City Hall
• Bacolod New Government Center

Vote YES on the CENECO JVA to improve electricity service and lower consumer electricity costs.