Utilities & Mobile Best Posts in Thread: Noreco II rates September 2026

Noreco published their rates for September yesterday, ultimately there is a modest decrease compared to August.



We'll see how it goes further down the road, I am not optimistic.

 

I agree with what you say, making threats against Noreco staff is ridiculous.
And yes, there's still plenty people in this country who struggle financially and they are disproportionally hit by inflationary pressures.

That doesn't mean that the Noreco policies are all that great though.
1. When things on the production side have been going in the wrong direction for at least the last 6 years or so, with ever more electricity plants failing / going on "forced outage",
then as a distribution utility you'd be smart to contract a higher percentage of your electricity need at a fixed rate instead of relying on a potentially volatile spot market.
Of course Noreco can't predict with any certainty how much electricity will be needed longer term (economic growth) or short term (the weather being a major factor in that), but the unpredictable part of electricity demand is definitely not 40%. Obviously though, it's too late for that now, that ship has sailed.
2. At least part of the "system losses" relate to the Noreco side of business. It's related to proper (unavoidable) system losses both on the NGCP and Noreco side but also to unpaid customer bills and stolen electricity. It's up to Noreco to minimize those last two. Prepaid electricity for consistent lousy paying comes to mind.
3. I am not entirely sure but I think that also the "low voltage issue" (which is a thing in remote areas more so than in Dumaguete it seems, but potentially damaging customer appliances) is a Noreco responsibility.
4. I have often said that while labour in this country is still cheap it would make sense to start digging in urban areas and put the electricity lines underground and transformers in little buildings purok by purok. It would get rid of the spaghetti above the side of streets and eliminate/lessen the weather- and vegetation related blackouts. Short term expense for long term gain it seems to me, but apparently most electricity cooperatives are not interested. They could even share the cost of the digging with internet providers who wish to keep serving their customers after the poles have gone.