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The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) is investigating the presence of about 600 unregistered member-consumers in its system.
INEC acting general manager Cipriano Martinez stated in a press conference that unregistered consumers are a key driver of the cooperative’s high systems loss charges, which burden legitimate members.
Martinez stressed the need for immediate action. “Whether it is intentional or not, we really need to correct that,” he said. “We are investigating this, and the bleeding has to stop.”
(Also read: 2-GW Wind Farm in Ilocos Norte Set for 2030 Completion)
Increasing systems loss
Systems loss refers to electricity that goes unbilled, either due to theft or inefficiencies in transmission and distribution. “This accounts to an estimated 10 percent of the total electric bill of consumers,” Martinez explained.
Registered INEC consumers collectively pay around P10 million per month due to system losses.
In response, management is implementing measures to reduce these charges. As part of these efforts, INEC has launched a house-to-house survey of its 185,000 members, following a Bureau of Internal Revenue directive to update records and meter registrations.
New management, new initiatives
INEC, the only power distributor in Ilocos Norte, is now under new management.
In addition to identifying unauthorized connections, the electric cooperative is carrying out other programs to enhance its services.
Last December 2024, INEC’s new single-phase primary line resolved power issues for the Indigenous community in Adams, Ilocos Norte, which often faces isolation during typhoons.
INEC invested P5 million to upgrade electricity services in Adams, which is also the province’s most remote municipality. The old seven-kilometer power line was replaced with a 7.77-kilometer primary line along the Pancian-Adams Road, improving access and reliability.
The upgrade ensures 80% power restoration during typhoons, eliminating the need for linemen to hike through difficult terrain. Adams Mayor Rosalia Dupagen thanked INEC and the provincial government for resolving the municipality’s power issues.
INEC also launched a smart metering system in January, with a pilot program set for the first quarter of 2025. Government and commercial buildings in Nueva Era, Dingras, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Badoc, and Laoag City will be the first to test the technology.
The smart meters will track electricity usage in real-time and automatically transmit accurate data to INEC, eliminating the need for manual readings. This ensures precise billing based on actual consumption rather than estimates while enhancing the detection of electrical issues for faster response times.
With the integration of smart grids, INEC consumers will also benefit from greater control over their energy use. The system allows for easy and flexible monitoring, helping users manage consumption more efficiently.
(Also read: Smart Power Metering System Debuts in Ilocos Norte)
Sources:
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1245517