PANAY Electric Co., Inc. (PECO) said the “heavily worded” notice of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on the power distribution company’s alleged operational lapses omitted the valid points in its favor.
“Regarding ERC’s claim that PECO’s protective devices were not properly rated and designed, we assure everyone that PECO has multiple protective devices that have proper ratings and designs for each of its feeder lines and down to its secondary lines,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
“Moreover, the fires that happened didn’t involve PECO’s lines as most of them are attributed to the improper bundling of telecom and cable lines which oftentimes short out,” it added.
PECO was responding to a directive issued by the ERC dated Nov. 26 and released to reporters on Wednesday.
The regulator told PECO’s directors and officers to explain violations of provisions of the following: Philippine Distribution Code (PDC) 2017 Edition; Amended Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (DSOAR); Amended Elevated Metering Center (EMC) Rules; and ERC Resolution No. 12, Series of 2009, or the Guidelines for the Accreditation of Satellite Laboratories of Meter Shops.
“We would like to point out that with our current protective devices in place, the lives and properties of our valued consumers were never affected in all the fire incidents related to this matter not unless the fire comes from within the consumers’ structure already,” PECO said.
“Regarding failed voltage tests in certain locations, the areas visited by the ERC ocular inspection team that had low voltage levels were actually in areas that had electrical pilferage present which resulted in the dropping of the voltage level due to the unregistered loads in the areas,” it added.
PECO also gave its side on the issue of leaning poles and those that are in unsafe positions, which were raised by the ERC.
“We would like to stress that PECO has a regular pole replacement and relocation program in place every year in order to cope up with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) projects being implemented around Iloilo City. We also have maintenance activities in order to straighten certain poles that tend to lean after some time. This is a year-to-year activity since coordinating with telco and cable companies take time,” it said.
The company also clarified that it had filed for 40 elevated metering center (EMC) sites during the last regulatory period, contrary to the ERC’s findings.
It added that contrary to the ERC report, PECO had been constantly coordinating with the ERC Visayas head office on its documentary requirements on the renewal of its meter shop certificate of authority.
“Suffice it to say that, through it all, PECO has been trying its best to abide by the rules and regulations of the ERC despite multiple external factors beyond our control. We communicated to the ERC that should they need further clarification on certain matters, we are very much willing to cooperate as we have been doing so consistently,” the company said.
“We in PECO are surprised by the seeming slant that the ERC is taking and we just hope that the ERC will not allow itself to be manipulated by the propaganda of economic saboteurs and give PECO a fair assessment,” it added. — Victor V. Saulon
