Global Business Power Corp. (GBP) has asked for the help of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to settle the dispute over power distribution in Iloilo.
The franchise renewal of current distributor and GBP client Panay Electric Co. (PECO) is still pending at the House of Representatives, while MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) is waiting for the approval of its franchise application from President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We have asked the ERC whom do we sell power to,” GBP President Jaime Azurin was quoted as saying in a Manila Bulletin report.
The two power firms caught in a corporate dispute are Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) and Panay Power Corp. (PPC). The firms operate the 314-megawatt (314-MW) of coal-fired power plant and 72-MW diesel plant respectively.
PECO’s franchise will expire on January 19, according to GBP Vice President for Panay operations Nilo Madrid.
Notably, MORE Power could decide to source its electricity supply from another firm as its chief executive officer Roel Castro was then president of Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC), PEDC’s rival coal-fired power plant in Iloilo.
“It is the decision of the new franchise holder. It’s not ours. But I hope they see the important of our power plants,” Azuin said in the report.
“It is utmost importance there is no disruption of power in Iloilo City. It would be unwise. It would be disastrous,” Azurin said.