Skip to main content

INEC steps up measures to reduce system loss

By

 


OPERATIONAL REFORM. Linemen of Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) replace old electric posts in Laoag City in this undated photo. INEC on Friday (July 31, 2026) welcomed the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to revisit the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. (Contributed Photo)

By Leilanie Adriano

LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) has intensified its efforts to reduce system loss by strengthening power distribution management, curbing electricity theft, and upgrading its electrical infrastructure to improve service efficiency and reliability.

In a letter addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. following his fifth State of the Nation Address, INEC general manager Cipriano Martinez III shared the ongoing operational reforms being undertaken over the past three years by the lone electric distribution utility here to reduce system losses.

“We at INEC, hear you, Mr. President. As the electric cooperative of your home province, not only do we fully support your call for reforms. We would also like to report that INEC has been instituting operational reforms to address the system loss component in our electricity rates,” said Martinez in the letter dated July 29 and was released to the media on Friday.

To address system loss, INEC has implemented measures such as regular line inspections, replacement of aging distribution facilities, installation of more accurate metering systems, and stricter monitoring of illegal power connections.

These initiatives are intended to minimize technical and non-technical losses while ensuring that electricity is delivered more efficiently to consumers.

The cooperative also continues to educate consumers on the importance of reporting illegal connections and maintaining safe electrical installations.

By working closely with local government units and law enforcement agencies, INEC said it seeks to prevent power pilferage, which contributes significantly to system losses and higher operating costs.

Through these reforms, Martinez reported that INEC was able to reduce the system loss component in the electricity rates of the province from 12 percent in 2023 to about 8 percent as of today.

"While acknowledging the contribution to nation building of the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), perhaps due to changing times on both human behavior and advancements in technology, it is indeed time to revisit and attune the law,” said Martinez in response to the President’s call for reforms to strengthen consumer protection in the power sector.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marcos town celebrates 3rd Pinakbet Festival

By
MARCOS, Ilocos Norte—Taking pride of this town ’s favorite Ilo cano dish, locally known as pinakbet, a mix of indigenous vegetables steamed in fish sauce, residents here ushered the opening of the third Pinakbet festival. “Pinakbet” came from the contracted Ilokano word ‘pinakebbet ’ which means “ shrunk ” or “shriveled.” As a way of thanksgiving, the Pinakbet festival is a repository of the town ’ s “ani” [harvest] festival being celebrated every month of March but this was later moved to December to accommodate more balikbayans wanting to join the festivity. Residents in this agricultural town derived most of their income from the harvest of high value crops, including rice, tobacco and corn as staple crops. This year, the week-long festivity highlighted a grand parade around the town plaza and a pinakbet cook fest at the municipal gymnasium to showcase the best pinakbet in town. A boodle fight followed suit. Earlier, a fun run was participated by various groups ...
7 comments
Read more

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By
By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...
15 comments
Read more

2020 Laoag City Traffic Code

By
  Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG   SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD   EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 58 TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE 11 TH SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF LAOAG HELD AT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD SESSION HALL, LAOAG CITY ON OCTOBER 14, 2020. PRESENT: 1.        Hon. Vicentito M. Lazo                                                 City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer Hon. Juan Conrado A. Respicio II                                              S.P....
45 comments
Read more