BACOLOD City – The Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) has spent about P1.2 billion in just one year of operation, company president and chief executive officer Roel Castro announced.
NEPC took over the operation of the electric distribution in Central Negros last August 2024 by virtue of Republic Act 12011 or Negros Power Franchise Law. From its proposed P2.5-billion allocation under a five-year development plan, Castro said nearly half has already been utilized in the first year alone.
“We are already ahead of target. We have accomplished about 26 percent of what we set in the plan,” Castro said during a press briefing with local media on September 3 in Bacolod City, where he also shared updates in relation to the programs and projects the company have accomplished in a year.
Also, as part of its anniversary celebration last month, NEPC held various activities, including a tree-planting program, to highlight its environmental advocacy and community partnership.
The utility firm committed to upgrading aging CENECO facilities across its franchise areas in the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, and Silay, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
These upgrades have already yielded improvements, particularly in reducing system loss from 13 percent under CENECO to 7 percent under NEPC. The company also reported apprehending 1,034 cases of electricity pilferage during its first year.
Through its Sitio Electrification Program, NEPC energized 30 sitios, benefiting about 1,300 households.
Castro said the initial P2.5-billion investment may not be enough to cover the full scope of needed upgrades, but the company is prepared to allocate more funds if necessary.
“Our first year has been about progress, service, and building relationships. Through the ‘Ikaw Ang Una’ campaign, we reaffirm our mission — not just to deliver reliable power, but to empower the people and communities of Negros for years to come,” Castro said.
As its first anniversary comes to a close, Negros Power remains steadfast in its mission to light up lives and power progress across central Negros. But more than marking a year, this celebration set the tone for the years ahead — where every project is rooted in purpose, every milestone is shared with the community, and every light switched on is a reminder of its promise: to always put “Ikaw Ang Una.”/PN
