By Liezle Basa Inigo
SAN CARLOS CITY – Around 42,000 households considered as lifeline consumers will benefit from a Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Cenpelco) program that will waive payment for billings that utilized less than 25 kwh this month.
This was disclosed by Cenpelco General Manager Rodrigo Corpuz, who noted that the power cooperative had a total of 230,000 consumers in 14 towns and one city in the province.
Corpuz said Cenpelco’s “Pantawid Liwanag” program will ease the burden of their consumers, who belong to the marginalized sector, during the COVID-19 crisis.
He said the so-called lifeline consumers were those who use a maximum of three electric bulbs in their homes, thus, consuming only below 25 kwh.
“We wanted to help them as they are the most affected in this crisis,” he said.
Meanwhile, Corpuz explained that electric bill of the consumers was expected to increase due to the enforced enhanced community quarantine.
“Marami ang nasa bahay at mas matagal ang paggamit ng mga appliances kaya huwag ipagtaka kung bakit mas mataas ang bayarin” Corpuz told The Manila Bulletin.
But he did confirm that Cepelco will allow the staggered payment of March and April billings from May to August without any interest or surcharges.