Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) wants the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to investigate Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) after numerous complaints were posted on social media alleging anomalous meter reading, which led to a much higher consumers’ electricity bill than their actual consumption.
In a statement, Ryan Amper, co-convenor of the DCM, cited a Facebook post that claimed that a Nordeco meter reader misread the meter to reflect a higher consumption which would result in a higher collection.
On the Wow Asuncion!PH Facebook page, a certain Jimlornmat Lumaso questioned what he pointed to as a dubious meter reading as what was reflected on the actual bill was way above the one reflected on the meter.
“#NORDECO unsa maning tirada nimo kaning tig reading dri abvance kayo ka…dagko na gani mog paningil nga walay abiso nga mo taas unya manikas pamo kawat manang tirada nimo (What scheme is this when the one reading (the meter recorded) and advance reading…you even ask for higher rates without informing the consumers, now you will also cheat, your scheme is stealing (from the consumers),” it said.
“Aside from its obvious inefficiency in running its systems, consumers have been complaining about some alleged irregularities by Nordeco personnel,” said Amper.
Amper stated that the meter reading was the latest among the anomalies that allegedly Nordeco has committed, pointing out that based on the research of his group, it also showed that among the three electric cooperatives in the Davao Region, it was allegedly collecting higher rates compared with the others even when they sourced their inputs from the same suppliers.
Amper said that based on the November 2022 billing cycle, Nordeco residential rate was at P16.9425 per kilowatt-hour, while that of Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative was at P13.9326 and Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative only collected P13.4256.
“It is high time for ERC and other regulating agencies to investigate Nordeco. They must stop Nordeco from mulcting from its unsuspecting customers,” it said.
DCM reiterated its call on the government to transfer the franchise area of Nordeco to Davao Light and Power Company, a proposal that gained traction in both Houses of Congress, but met opposition in Malacanang after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed it.
Nordeco is the power distributor of the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro including Tagum City and Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).
In July last year, Marcos vetoed House Bill 10554, an Act Expanding the Franchise Area of Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (DLPC).
The said bill would remove the municipalities of New Corella, Asuncion, Talaingod, Kapalong, and San Isidro, the cities of Tagum and Samal in Davao del Norte, and the municipality of Maco in Davao de Oro from the franchise coverage area of Nordeco.
“We hope President Marcos Jr. will reconsider his position and will not allow politics to ruin our aspiration of having a better and more efficient electricity provider in Davao Light. We hope our President will consider our miserable plight as customers,” he said in the statement.
As of this writing, Edge Davao is still waiting for Nordeco’s reaction to DCM’s request to the ERC.”
