Laoag City (CNN Philippines) — The electricity bills of Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) customers will increase this month due to a hike in the cost of electricity generation.
According to INEC president Rey Lazo, generation charge increased last month by 25 centavos, forcing them to pass a part of the cost to the consumers.
An increase of 0.1729 pesos per kilowatt hour has been implemented on the electricity bills of the member-consumers, Lazo said.
Lazo added that the increase is necessary to defray the cost of energy production and distribution.
Meanwhile, the entire Ilocos Norte and some parts of Ilocos Sur will experience a 9-hour brownout on Friday (July 31).
Lilibeth Gaydowen, regional corporate communications and public affairs officer of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), announced that the brownout will be from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The areas that will be affected are Narvacan, Burgos, Nagbukel, Santa, Vigan City, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente, Caoayan, Bantay, San Ildefonso, Magsingal, San Juan, Cabugao and Sinait in Ilocos Sur and the entire Ilocos Norte.
She said the power outage is necessary for the facilitation of safe stringing of the on-going San Esteban-Laoag 230KV transmission line project that will serve as an spare transmission line in Ilocos.
