Negros Electric and Power Corp. is advancing a
multibillion-peso program to overhaul the electricity distribution network
serving Bacolod City and parts of Negros Occidental, with total planned
investments expected to reach about P2.1 billion.
The power distributor, a joint venture between Primelectric
Holdings of businessman Enrique Razon Jr. and Central Negros Electric
Cooperative, assumed control of the distribution system in August 2024. Its
franchise currently covers Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, Silay, Murcia and Don
Salvador Benedicto, serving more than 220,000 active customer accounts.
Expanding beyond initial upgrades
Since taking over the network, Negros Power has already
committed more than P1.2 billion to infrastructure improvements. The next phase
will focus on replacing deteriorating power lines, rehabilitating substations,
deploying modern metering technology and implementing measures designed to
strengthen reliability while curbing technical and commercial losses.
The scale of the program reflects an effort to address the
weaknesses of an aging distribution network rather than simply maintain
existing infrastructure. Upgrading the system is expected to provide greater
resilience as electricity demand continues to evolve across the province.
One of the most visible projects is the P79-million
underground distribution system planned along a major Bacolod thoroughfare. The
initiative will relocate overhead electrical facilities underground,
potentially improving the streetscape while providing a more protected
distribution network in a busy urban area.
Bringing electricity to underserved communities
Modernization will also extend beyond major population
centers.
Negros Power has set aside approximately P250 million for
sitio energization initiatives covering 232 underserved rural communities. The
program is intended to expand access to dependable electricity in areas that
have remained inadequately served.
This component gives the investment program a broader
purpose. While network rehabilitation addresses reliability in established
service areas, rural energization focuses on extending the benefits of modern
electricity infrastructure to communities that still face limited access.
Renewable energy remains a key advantage
Negros Power is also operating within a province with
significant renewable energy resources. At least one-third of its electricity
supply comes from indigenous geothermal sources, reinforcing Negros
Occidental's reputation as an important renewable energy center.
The combination of distribution upgrades and access to
geothermal generation gives the province an opportunity to strengthen both the
reliability and sustainability of its power system.
Negros Power President and CEO Roel Castro has set 2029 as
the target for completing the rehabilitation and modernization of the
electricity networks under the company's franchise.
The long-term objective is clear: build a distribution
system capable of providing more dependable service while supporting the
continued economic and population growth of the communities it serves.
With billions of pesos being directed toward substations, lines, meters, underground facilities and rural electrification, the modernization effort represents one of the most substantial changes to the region's power infrastructure since Negros Power assumed distribution operations in 2024.
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