Akelco on track to energize sitios in 2015

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Akelco) is on track to energize its target sitios this year under the national government’s  Sitio Electrification Program (SEP).

In 2014 alone, 53 sitios had been energized in the coverage areas of Akelco, which was 36 percent of 145 sitios programmed last year. It also benefited 1,590 household families in 53 sitios. 

Ten barangays were fully energized from 2011 to 2014 out of 378 barangays in 19 municipalities of Aklan and Antique under the SEP.

This year, Akelco targets to provide electricity to 92 remaining communities approved and funded in 2014 and to identify more sitios for fund subsidy and to be energized in 2015 and 2016.

SEP is implemented to attain 90% electrification of households nationwide by 2017, anchored on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Household Electrification Plan.

Akelco is categorized as triple A mega-large electric cooperative, one of the biggest ECs under the National Electrification Administration (NEA). Last year, Akelco posted 10.413 percent system loss, much lower set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for electricity cooperatives and distribution utilities.

Akelco had 114,983 billed consumers, 104,833 of whom were residential users and 7,688 were classified as commercial consumers in 2014.  It had 95 linemen and 301 employees also last year. 

Meanwhile, NEA deputy administrator for Field Operations (Management Assistance Group) Engr. Edilberto Bassig graced the 32^nd Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) on June 6  in Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports and Cultural Center in Kalibo, Aklan. 

Bassig hailed Akelco as the pillar of strength and catalyst in the socio-economic and rural development of the province.

“The gathering of Akelco officials and employees and all member-consumers serves to remember the accomplishments you had done in the past year and to present the plans and programs of the electric cooperative now and the years to come,” he said.

Bassig stressed “the annual general assembly also serves as an opportunity to reiterate the solemn vow to continue the ideals of what Akelco stands for.”

“Introduce new business innovations and developments, of new technology, to enhance quality and efficiency in service, not only for total electrification in the coverage areas,” Bassig  challenged the Akelco officials.

During the assembly, Akelco acting general manager Pedro Nalangan IV said the electric cooperative plans to adopt the Read-and-Bill automated system to improve collection efficiency and billing collection cycle and to ensure full teller-complement in area offices.

Akelco also will increase the number of payment centers by entering agreements with third-party collection providers and commercial banks and to fully automate the Akelco’s Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) for 2015.