Power Interrupted: How Poor Power Service Shapes Lives in Amianan

Northern Luzon (Amianan) and its surrounding provinces continue to hold a stronger-than-expected position in the country’s economic landscape, contributing steadily to national growth. In 2024, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recorded a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of approximately ₱378.3 billion, marking a 4.8% expansion from the previous year. Notably, its per capita output remained above the national average, reflecting a more balanced and improving economic structure.

Similarly, the Ilocos Region sustained its upward momentum with a 4.9% growth rate in 2024, bringing its total regional output to more than ₱735 billion.

While economic activity across Amianan continues to deepen, its progress remains closely tied to reliable and affordable electricity, which underpins productivity in small enterprises, healthcare, education, and the growing digital economy.

In this setting, electric cooperatives (ECs) serve as frontline providers and system operators responsible for delivering, maintaining, and expanding distribution networks that power households and industries, but when they are unable to ensure consistent service, the impact extends beyond households and directly affects quality of life and the overall pace of local development.

(Also read: Luzon Outages Renew Calls To Break Reliance On Large Power Plants)

Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC): System Strain and Recurrent Disruptions

INEC, which serves around 185,000 to 190,000 member-consumer-owners, has come under attention following long-standing concerns over system losses and billing inefficiencies. In 2025, the EC’s officials reported that roughly 600 consumers were found to be unregistered, a gap that has been linked to elevated distribution losses across its service network. These unaccounted connections are seen as a key factor distorting actual consumption levels, with costs ultimately shouldered by paying members.

INEC estimates system losses at about ₱10 million monthly, equivalent to roughly 10% of consumer electricity bills. Of this, around 6% is attributed to technical losses, while about 4% comes from non-technical causes such as theft and unregistered usage.

Online, consumers are complaining. “I reside in the northern part of Ilocos Norte, and power outages here are so dire, like there isn’t a single month where we don’t experience these said outages,” one wrote. “Sometimes, I just wish someone will start to boycott/rally INEC, and I’m sure a lot of us residents of Ilocos Norte will voluntarily join.”

Another lamented about the EC’s lack of customer service. “Don’t even try contacting their phone numbers na nakalagay sa FB cover page nila. Ang daming numbers, walang sumasagot! (Don’t even try contacting their phone numbers on their FB page. They have so many numbers, but no one answers any of them!)

Also in 2025, INEC came under scrutiny after the National Electrification Administration (NEA) filed cases with the Department of Justice (DOJ) involving several ECs. Current and former INEC officials were charged with syndicated estafa over the alleged misappropriation of around ₱118 million from the Employees Retirement Fund.

Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco): Operating Under Extreme Conditions

ABRECO operates in one of the most geographically challenging service areas in Northern Luzon, with mountainous terrain and disaster-prone zones.

During typhoons, ABRECO is frequently among the hardest hit ECs, experiencing widespread outages that require external reinforcement for restoration. When Typhoon Nando struck in 2025, ABRECO reported a widespread and total power interruption across its service area, while other nearby ECs experienced only partial outages.

ABRECO has also gained attention over its obligations in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). Based on data released by the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), the EC was repeatedly listed among participants with the highest unpaid settlement balances in 2025. By late September, its outstanding obligations had reached approximately ₱289 million.

“Permi pudot nan abrecoooooo…….rabii met grud sal ot kay ktdi. (ABRECO is always problematic … even at night it’s still like that), wrote one consumer, while another raised concerns about frequent power fluctuations. “Sipay ngarud on and off met apo .. maperdi amin a alikamen. (Why is it always on and off… all our appliances might get damaged.)

Financial difficulties at ABRECO trace back to the mid-2010s, when debts largely owed to Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and unpaid taxes reached hundreds of millions, triggering repeated power shutdowns from 2012 to 2014.

In April 2026, ABRECO announced that electricity rates would rise, citing global price pressures linked to tensions in the Middle East. The increase is expected to add further strain on consumers already dealing with an unreliable power supply.

Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO): Disrupting Public Services

Service reliability issues have frequently affected the service areas of ISECO, with both scheduled maintenance activities and unexpected interruptions contributing to repeated power disruptions across multiple towns in the province.

In May 2024, a major preventive maintenance activity at the Narvacan substation led to an eight-hour power interruption that affected several municipalities in southern Ilocos Sur. The outage temporarily halted government operations, including work at the Narvacan municipal hall, as offices were forced to suspend services due to the complete loss of electricity. The interruption extended beyond a single locality, impacting at least five nearby municipalities and underscoring how maintenance-related shutdowns can significantly disrupt public administration and daily economic activity.

A similar situation occurred in November 2025, when a scheduled power outage affected 16 towns across Ilocos Sur. The interruption disrupted trial court operations, leading to the temporary suspension of routine judicial processes such as the filing of time-sensitive pleadings and the issuance of court resolutions. While urgent and critical cases were still accommodated, the outage highlighted the sensitivity of essential public services to uncoordinated grid maintenance.

In January 2026, consumers across ISECO’s coverage area voiced concerns over the frequency of both planned and unplanned outages. “Frequent power interruptions have become a regular burden for consumers. These outages affect daily life, work, businesses, students, and even health needs,” noted the post. “Some consumers have also experienced damaged appliances due to sudden power outages and fluctuations, adding financial strain on households.”

Many residents continue to call for more reliable infrastructure upgrades, improved communication on outage schedules, and stronger long-term solutions to stabilize power delivery across the province.

Isabela Electric Cooperative II (ISELCO II): Unverified Power Charges

In July 2024, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) imposed a ₱2 million fine on ISELCO II after finding repeated failures in justifying generation charges passed on to consumers. The regulator said the EC failed to submit essential fuel cost invoices and supporting documents linked to its power supply deal with Anda Power Corporation, breaching required audit and reporting rules for fuel-related expenses.

The ERC noted that it had already instructed the EC as early as December 13, 2022, to submit the necessary records. Despite repeated follow-ups and sufficient time to comply, ISELCO II did not provide the required documentation. The commission described the lapse as a serious neglect of duty under EPIRA, stressing that the absence of data made it impossible to verify whether consumer charges were properly computed or justified.

The regulator further emphasized that distribution utilities are obligated to ensure full transparency and accuracy in all cost pass-through charges. This includes independently validating invoices, contracts, and fuel-related inputs before incorporating them into electricity rates. ERC also reminded ISELCO II that compliance with approved power supply agreements requires active verification, not reliance solely on supplier declarations.

(Also read: Green Energy, Higher Bills: The Real Price Filipinos Pay for Renewable Power)

Energy Service and Regional Equity

Electricity access should not vary by location, yet in parts of Northern Luzon, service reliability continues to differ due to infrastructure limitations, financial pressures, and exposure to weather-related disruptions.

Some ECs may operate in challenging environments, but recurring interruptions and system constraints point to the need for continued investment, modernization, and stronger operational accountability.

For many communities, the demand is not for exceptional service but for consistent and dependable electricity that can support education, livelihoods, and everyday needs. Reliable power remains a basic requirement for sustained local development.

Ultimately, access to stable electricity is not only a matter of infrastructure but also of equity, opportunity, and quality of life.

Sources:

https://pia.gov.ph/news/psa-cordillera-economy-grew-by-4-8-percent-in-2024

https://pia.gov.ph/news/ilocos-region-ranks-6th-fastest-growing-economy-in-ph

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1245517

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ilocos/comments/1ov8lfj/inecs_incompetence/

https://tribune.net.ph/2025/05/27/nea-files-cases-vs-ec-officials-over-alleged-fund-mismanagement

https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2025/09/23/700426/power-still-out-in-abra-ilocos-norte-batanes-due-to-super-typhoon-nando

https://pia.gov.ph/news/abreco-alerts-consumers-of-power-rate-hike-amid-mideast-tension

https://www.facebook.com/AbraElectricCoop/posts/pfbid031zZ2q4c5eq2R2frByfqvvzGgZ4GUSiVf7BgTqNZNTTKur2TaDUxAwA8Cr3bFXpXzl

https://abreniandotcom.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/abreco-plunged-in-p600-m-debt

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/02/08/huge-debts-threaten-closure-of-abra-power-co-op