Beneco to implement underground cabling in 5 years
The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) will be implementing the proposed underground cabling of electric wires probably in the next five years depending on the prevailing conditions that will transpire during the said period.
Earlier, BENECO estimated some P11 billion as the initial funding requirement in the implementation of the underground cabling of its electric wires with a length of approximately 10 kilometers within the city’s central business district if the said project was implemented over a decade ago.
BENECO general manager Engr. Melchor S. Licoben said that there was also a previous proposal that the underground cabling of electric wires will be done within the area of jurisdiction of its Lamut sub-station situated in Beckel, La Trinidad because its power lines are always affected by fallen trees and protruding branches considering the presence of numerous trees in the said area.
He added the need to undertake an updated feasibility study on the proposed underground cabling of its electric wires to ascertain the funds that will be required and to guide the management on the board on how to move forward with the noble project.
The BENECO official said that the electric cooperative has always been receptive on the proposal to have their electric wires be placed underground but the enormous amount needed to pursue the implementation of the project remains a major obstacle for its realization.
Under the earlier proposal, the funds to be used for the implementation of the project will be shouldered by the consumers where the amount of increase in the power rates before was initially pegged at P0.45 per kilowatt hour for a period of around 10 years depending on the scheme that will be approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) at that time.
Among the possible sources of funds to implement the underground cabling of BENECO’s electric wires are possible loan with the National electrification Administration (NEA) and the increase in power rates which will be an added burden to the consumers considering the projected increase in the monthly power rates that will be charged to the member-consumer-owners. – Dexter A. See
