BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), the sole power distributor here, said it will be fielding about 30 emergency teams in strategic areas in the city to augment law enforcement to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted Dinagyang Festival celebration.
In a statement, Bernard Bailey Del Castillo, MORE Power vice president for Network Development and Operations Group, said the deployment of the emergency technical teams is the company’s proactive measure in supporting the festivity.
“These teams are well-prepared to respond to any electrical concerns that may arise, ensuring the continuous delivery of reliable power throughout the event,” the power distribution utility said.
MORE Power said they have coordinated with the police and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to facilitate immediate responses in case of emergencies.
Likewise, it urged revelers to exercise caution with the use of balloons and ensure they are properly secured to prevent unintended incidents.
Uncontrolled balloon releases pose a potential risk of entanglement with power lines, leading to unscheduled power interruptions, said MORE Power.
It also advised those who are leaving their homes to unplug their appliances and switch off the main breakers to reduce the risk of fire hazards and electrical incidents.
“We want everyone to enjoy the Dinagyang Festival to the fullest, and our team is working tirelessly to distribute and provide a reliable power supply throughout the celebration,” added Engr. Del Castillo.
Meanwhile, MORE Power also announced that their consumers will have a 10-centavo increase in their January billing cycle due to a hike in the transmission charge.
“This is solely due to the additional ancillary service charge by NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) to maintain the reliability of their electricity grid and the balance in the system so they may recover in time of power system disturbance,” MORE Power said.
The distribution utility will pass on 10 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to consumers following the 19 percent hike in the transmission charge. This means the consumers will pay P10.321 per kWh for the Jan. billing from the P10.2259/kWh during the December 2023 billing cycle./PN