POWER RATES HIKE. Felino Herbert Agdigos, general manager of Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, on May 17, 2022 discusses why power rates in the city have increased. He said the hike in generation charges was beyond their control and had to be passed on to consumers. (PNA file Photo by Leilanie Adriano) LAOAG CITY - Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc on Thursday assured electric consumers that the Ilocos Norte government and the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) are working on possible measures to reduce surging power rates in the province. While Ilocos Norte is known as the capital of renewable energy in the Philippines with a total wind potential capacity of 719 megawatts and solar energy of 312 megawatts, many consumers here took to social media and expressed their dismay at the INEC for its exorbitant electricity rates which stood at PHP19 per kilowatt-hour as of July compared to PHP16 per kWh last month. "Our income is no longer enough to pay our expensive electricity bill," said Randy Malilay, a resident of Bacarra town. Though the Labayog home in Barangay Raraburan, Laoag City is installed with solar lights, and there is only one running aircon at night, Meanwhile, Maria Theresa Labayog, resident of Barangay Raraburan in Laoag City, posted on Facebook their July electric bill amounting to PHP18,727.68, even if they only have one aircon and use solar lights. "I'm not even watering my plants using our water system and just wait for raindrops to save on electricity but our bill continues to go up," she said. Sought for comment, the governor said they are already working on the matter, even as he vowed to "make sure our people feel the benefits of our energy surplus." But on the part of the local electric cooperative, which is the city's sole distribution utility, INEC General manager Felino Herbert Agdigos said they could not get their supply directly from independent power producers. "Under the procurement law, there is no direct contract with them. Our supply requirements have to undergo bidding, ensure a continuous supply with the right amount and quality," Agdigos said. Since 2018, the INEC has entered into a generation contract agreement with Masinloc Power Partners C. Ltd. with a non-disclosure clause and remains in effect for 20 years. (PNA) }