Aklan electric coop consumers opt to remain with NEA

BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

Member-consumers of Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) voted in a province-wide referendum to remain with National Electrication Administration (NEA).

Akelco is the sole power distributor in the province of Aklan including Boracay Island and the towns of Pandan and Libertad in Antique. 

On December 12, the referendum was held  for  electric consumers to choose among three options – to shift to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), to transform the Akelco into a stock profit corporation under the Securities and Exchange Commission or to remain its present set-up to NEA.

Of the total number of votes cast, 3,737 voters chose to remain as non-stock non profit electric cooperative while 27  preferred to convert to CDA and 14 chose to convert into stock corporation.  

Akelco is mandated to conduct the referenducm  in compliance under Section 25-A of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of  Republic Act 10531 or the NEA Reform Act of 2013. On December 14, 2014, all electric cooperatives are directed to conduct the referendum for electric cooperative conversion

Of the 140 electric cooperatives nationwide, only 13 converted into stock cooperatives and registered with the CDA.

Under NEA, the Akelco received P140.99 million grant for restoration and rehabilitation efforts after Typhoon Yolanda hit the province of Aklan two years ago.