Visayan Electric Company, Inc. has launched a free house-wiring electrification program aimed at expanding electricity access among indigent households within its franchise area, starting with communities in Naga City, Cebu and the Municipality of San Fernando.

The project, which began in September 2025, provides professional electrical installations at no cost to qualified households, thus addressing a major barrier to electrification even in areas already served by power lines. House wiring typically costs PHP 12,000 to PHP 13,000 when done privately, an expense that has kept many low-income families from securing electricity connections.

Visayan Electric said it has identified 3,933 households as potential beneficiaries based on a survey conducted within its service area. The first phase will cover 2,013 homes in Naga City and 718 homes in San Fernando, with implementation to be carried out in stages.

Under the program, the AboitizPower distribution utility deploys accredited electricians to install outlets, switches, wiring, circuit breakers, and electrical conduits. This ensures compliance with safety standards and electrical codes. The company cited fire prevention as a key consideration, noting that faulty electrical connections remain a common cause of residential fires.

Barangay officials said high wiring and connection costs have long prevented residents from accessing electricity, even in areas where utility poles are already in place. “Many of the residents did not have their own electricity supply, especially those from Sitio Langsub. Although we’ve put up utility poles in the area, connection expenses are quite high, which kept them from having electricity – until now,” Barangay Captain Emily Baricuatros said.

The project is funded through an electrification fund initially amounting to PHP 28 million, sourced from the Department of Energy’s Energy Regulation No. 1-94 (ER 1-94) program. Under ER 1-94, host communities receive a financial benefit equivalent to PHP 0.01 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity sales, which will increase to PHP 0.03/kWh in 2026.

In Naga City, Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) is among the contributors to the fund, which is remitted to Visayan Electric to cover labor and material costs.

Visayan Electric said the initiative supports the national government’s goal of electrifying the estimated three million Filipino households that still lack electricity access. The company added that the house-wiring project complements its long-running electrification programs, including the replacement of outdated electrical systems in public schools.

Since 2010, Visayan Electric, together with the Aboitiz Foundation, has rewired more than 5,300 classrooms and school facilities within its franchise area to reduce fire risks and improve electrical safety.

Visayan Electric operates in Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, and Naga cities, as well as the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. As of end-2024, it reported having energized 100% of barangays and electrified 99.37% of households in its coverage area.

As utilities address the remaining gaps in household electrification, how can last-mile solutions like free house wiring accelerate universal access to safe and reliable electricity?

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more updates.