Casureco II to slash 20kw from April 2020 billing

Some 104,510 residential consumers of the Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative (Casureco II) are entitled to the free 20 kilowatt (kWh) reduction in their April 2020 bills as part of the Pantawid Liwanag Program (PLP) of the electric cooperative.

The 20 kWh reduction in the April billing was approved by the Board of Directors (BOD) led by its president, Paul John Sta. Ana recently.

Initially, only lifeline consumers or those whose monthly electric consumption range from one to 20 kWH are supposed to get a 50 kWh reduction for their March and April bills under the PLP. Lifeline consumers are those classified as indigents or using minimal electricity. They comprised 20 percent of Casureco II’s 124,00 total number of consumers.

Rinner Bucay, Casureco II spokesperson, said that the BOD during its meeting decided to include all residential consumers in the PLP instead of limiting its coverage to lifeline consumers only, thus instead of 50 kWH free consumption, it was reduced to 20 kWh.

Based on estimate, the free 20 kwh reduction will amount to P 17.5 million loss in revenues, however, the amount will be charged to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund of Casureco II.

PLP is the main CSR program of the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (PHILRECA) in line with the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Casureco II covers the Naga City and the towns of Siruma, Tinambac, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Minalabac, Milaor, and Pili.

Bucay said that as a result of the implementation of free 20 kWh reduction, Casureco II will cancel all CSR activities scheduled this year such as the annual general membership assembly, Christmas party and Casureco II Foundation Day slated in August this year.