Utilities & Mobile Electricity price.

Most power plants here are owned by private corporations, including the one in Valencia. The power generated from these power plants, be they geo-thermal, hydro (there are hydro plants on Luzon and Mindanao), or coal, become part of the national power grid. Power is sold to power companies (in our case NORECO, or Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative) who distribute it to the public. Of course, everyone makes a healthy profit along the way, at the expense of the people. So just because Valencia is a major source of power for neighboring islands, it all is part of the bigger picture so NORECO pays the same price for it as CEBECO (Cebu Electric Cooperative) and other power companies. Of course they pass this huge savings on to us.

As for Valencia, the geo-thermal was owned by PNOC (Philippine National Oil Company), but sold out to EDC (Energy Development Corporation) a few years back. Somewhere along the way, EDC petitioned the court to overturn the law to the effect that power companies had to pay royalties to the municipalities they operate in, so in effect Valencia lost it's 21 million peso per month royalty checks. Our politicians did nothing to try to prevent this, in fact did not even inform the public this was a possibility until it was too late. Once the royalty fund is depleted, there will be no more P800 per month in free electricity for Valencia. This is predicted to happen in 2014.

Larry

 

The power plant up in Valencia is geo-thermal, so isn't the fuel free compared to oil or coal ?

The "fuel" (hot water) is free, but all the work and maintenance that goes into producing the electricity isn't.

I don't know how much of Dumaguete's electricity comes from there, does anyone know ?

In an article from July 17,2012 ( DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental )

"Of the three power utilities supplying electricity to NORECO 2, KEPCO charges P5.62 per kilowatt hour, GCGI at P5.11/kWh and WESEM with a varying rate between P4 to P8 per kWh, depending on the on peak or off peak schedules." Coal and other sources of fuel (oil) are not free.

This tells me their is more than one source of electricity for the Dumaguete area.

As some of you know if you live in Valencia you get a P800 rebate every month on your electric. But for some reason it isn't just automatically subtracted from your bill, you have to go apply for it which I didn't understand. We used to live there but I don't remember our rate there. I think the geo-thermal power generating company belongs to the city ???? Perhaps that is why only Valencia residents get the rebate.

The original owner of the power plant had an agreement with the city of Valencia.

I have often wondered why there aren't any hydro plants here. Perhaps the rivers are not large enough ???

There are hydro plants in the Philippines, but most do not operate all year round for lack of enough water. Most likely the watershed they draw from is not large enough. Hydro is very capital intensive too.

 

Things could be worse

 

I really don't like to talk about local or State wide Political systems but I have to agree that the situation is exactly like "Wrye" says, most Candidates here are entrenched in their place, supported by their Relatives, extended Families and the Followers that accept their Bribes, to get rid of them can only happen when the Voters open their Minds and start voting the Candidates that are not bribing...

 

Noreco in the south seneco in the north so what power companys are in the east and west?

 

Noceco for Negros Occ...

 

I read somewhere that the power generated in Valencia was not used by NORECO II but instead sold to the providers in Cebu because they can get more for it. That's capitalism.