INEC commissions new 10 MVA substation

INEC acting general manager Engr. Herbert Agdigos assists Ilocos Norte provincial administrator Windell Chua during the blessing and ceremonial switching of the 10 MVA substation on September 19 located at Barangay 1 in Laoag City. The new substation is expected to augment the increasing load capacity in the city.

Doms dela Cruz

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

To improve electricity distribution in Laoag City, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) has commissioned its 10 MV substation located at Barangay 1 on September 19.

INEC acting general manager Engr. Felino Herbert Agdigos said this station would augment the increasing load capacity requirement of Laoag City, helping their Barangay 23 substation also in this city.

INEC reports show that Laoag City has a total load capacity of 20 MW and INEC already has 80 percent and if this continuous to increase until 2016, the INEC official said they will again need a new substation.

Agdigos disclosed that that newly commissioned substation in Laoag would not result in electric rate increase but would help the cooperative in giving a better quality of service, reliability and efficient supply of power.

The acting general manager also related that the new substation was acquired through a “rent-to-own” scheme for five years.

The 10 MVA sub-station covers all residential and commercial areas west of Gen. Segundo Ave. in this city and could even extend to portions of south of the Padsan River.

He added that this will supply the proposed big shopping mall at the western portion of the Gilbert Bridge.

Provincial administrator Atty. Windell D. Chua served as the special guest during the formal blessing and switching in place of Ilocos Norte Gov. Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos who was unavailable.

Refund to resume

Meanwhile, INEC board president Reynaldo M. Lazo announced that the refund would soon continue monthly. The refund would be included in the consumers’ monthly electric bills.

Records show that out of P102 million refund ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission, INEC still needs to refund an estimated P41 million more to its member-consumers.

The refund was ordered after the ERC ruled that INEC overcharged its consumers.