Sen. Grace Poe has applauded the efficient service of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), the distribution utility in Iloilo City, which was able to address the electricity shortage and high electricity bill in Iloilo City in just a span of three years following the grant of its legislative franchise.
Poe commended MORE Power during the continuation of the joint investigation of the Senate Committee on Energy and Committee on Public Services in relation to the frequent brownout experienced in different parts of the country due to the poor management of electric cooperatives.
The senator believed that the entry of private players like MORE Power is the key to improving the power services and preventing frequent brownouts.
“With bigger capitalization from the private sector and a responsibility to their shareholders, they can provide better service. In Iloilo City, when MORE Power’s franchise was approved, the service definitely improved,” said Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services.
It was in 2020 when MORE Power started its operation, but within three years, its five-year development plan for improving power services in Iloilo City was almost completed.
MORE Power President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Castro said that since the company took over the power supply in Iloilo City from Panay Electric Company (PECO), it has invested P1.5 billion worth of investments dedicated to the modernization of the power distribution facilities. Macon Ramos Araneta
Among those replaced by MORE Power are the old and dilapidated electric meters and wooden electric poles. It also upgraded the transformers, rehabilitated substations, and constructed new transmission and switching stations.
As a result of the modernization, power interruptions have been reduced by 90 percent, overloading and illegal connections have been avoided which has resulted in a decrease in system loss that is passed on to consumers, and the response time to consumer complaints has also been addressed immediately, and the electricity bill was reduced.
Castro said that due to the modernization of distribution facilities, the electricity bill in Iloilo City is one of the lowest in the entire country.
“MORE Power has invested over a billion pesos to deliver on its commitment to bring about welcome changes in the electric service in terms of efficiency, sufficiency, and reliability,” Castro said.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas also commended MORE Power for providing consumer-friendly services
“MORE delivers good service to Iloilo City and they work very closely with us, very consumer-friendly. MORE Power has excellent Corporate Social Responsibility. Very happy and satisfied customer of MORE Power,” Treñas concluded.