LINGAYEN—Officials of the Pangasinan III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Panelco) have been invited to appear before the provincial board on January 20 to shed light on the company’s recent power rate increase, the highest in the province.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved a resolution last week, authored jointly by Board Members Danilo Uy and Ranjit Shahani, calling on the board to look into  rate hike which took effect in December 2013 Dec. 2013 which has reportedly adversely and seriously affected poor consumers.

Panelco, which services eastern Pangasinan, increased its rate by P5.6 per kilowatt hour (kWh), including value added tax (VAT) and other taxes, from P9.8 per kWh to P15.4 per kWh.

The resolution noted that it has also been reported that Panelco III’s rate increase is the highest so far in Pangasinan as compared to the other electric cooperatives serving the province.

Some groups have complained about the rate increase which was allegedly implemented without consultation with consumers.

Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. said other electric cooperatives in the province will also be invited in succeeding inquiries to enable the board to make a full evaluation of the power sector’s performance in the province.—Tita Roces

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