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The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) is ramping up efforts to bring power to more remote areas, aiming to light up 206 additional sitios in Baguio City and Benguet by 2027. This initiative forms part of the cooperative’s broader push to expand access to electricity in upland and underserved communities.
Beneco General Manager Melchor Licoben shared that the project is expected to reach over 26,000 households across 269 barangays. These include areas in Baguio and the municipalities of Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay—stretching even to select communities in Pangasinan.
“Electricity is a necessity,” stressed Licoben. “There are many things we cannot do without power; that is why it is pursued even in areas where there are few households or minimal power consumption.”
The rollout will be carried out in stages, with 98 sitios scheduled for electrification in 2025, followed by 74 in 2026, and the remaining 34 by 2027.
The multi-year initiative comes with a price tag of ₱334.6 million. Funding is largely backed by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), which has earmarked ₱100 million for the 2025 phase alone. Beneco is also chipping in, contributing ₱13 million from its own internally generated funds.
Although the current plan focuses on energizing existing sitios, Beneco anticipates that continued population growth and the spread of residential zones could lead to the emergence of new sitios requiring electricity in the future.
Despite offering minimal financial returns, the sitio electrification program reflects a broader mission: to deliver reliable power to all communities, no matter how remote.
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Long-term improvements
Beneco also announced plans to invest nearly ₱1 billion over the next seven years under its Distribution Development Plan, which spans 2025 to 2032.
The electric cooperative’s newly approved investments aim to modernize its power distribution system in response to rising demand across its franchise area. The funding will support grid expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and improved system reliability. It will also cover a broad scope of projects—from substation development and line enhancements to both network and non-network improvements. Ongoing maintenance, emergency repairs, and system efficiency upgrades are planned to keep the grid safe and resilient.
Beneco is also placing greater emphasis on renewable energy as part of its long-term development strategy. Among its current initiatives are the pursuit of a Certificate of Authority for a proposed 5-megawatt project in Kabayan and the continued rollout of its planned solar installation in Tabaan Sur, Tuba. Additional renewable ventures are being explored in the towns of Tuba, Tublay, Kabayan, and Bakun.
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Maintaining energy affordability
For the past 16 years, Beneco has kept power rates stable, avoiding any price hikes. This pricing consistency has been made possible by growing electricity demand and steady income from its internal operations, allowing the cooperative to sustain services without passing additional costs on to consumers.
Electricity consumption within Beneco’s coverage area rose by 6.5% in 2024 and continued to climb by another 6% in the first half of 2025.
According to Licoben, the steady growth in demand has played a key role in keeping the cooperative financially stable. “This has allowed us to sustain our operations without needing to request a rate increase from the Energy Regulatory Commission,” Licoben explained.
Beneco collects a total of ₱1.20 per kilowatt-hour for its retained charges, which include distribution, supply, and metering (DSM) services, and its Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capex (RFSC). With consumers using an average of 47 million kilowatt-hours each month, the cooperative generates approximately ₱50 million monthly to support its operational and capital requirements.
Licoben also pointed to other revenue sources that help bolster Beneco’s finances, including fees from telecom companies leasing utility poles and surcharges that are funneled back into enhancing the power distribution system.
“As much as possible, we avoid power outages. The more electricity is consumed, the more efficient our DSM and RFSC operations become,” Licoben said.
Sources:
https://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1253574
https://amiananbalitangayon.com/beneco-p891-m-to-fund-power-distribution-upgrades-cy-2025-2032