LEZO, Aklan – Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores urged the member-consumers of Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) to stand united in finding solutions to augment the power supply of Aklan and the neighboring towns of Antique.

The solon said the general membership assembly theme,"Keeping the Lights On", was timely for Akelco as it faces possible power shortage in the coming months.

"Not only is Akelco tapping alternative independent power producers but also electric cooperatives in the Visayas grid to avert the looming power crisis and to ensure a steady supply of power for their consumers," he said.

Akelco general manager Chito Peralta said National Power Corporation (Napocor) president Froilan Tampinco, in his letter dated May 5, 2009, urged Akelco to start negotiating with an independent power producer to supply its energy requirements starting June 26, 2009.

Peralta said Panay Island, with six electric cooperatives, has a combined power deficit of 63.50 megawatts, while Negros has a 73-MW deficit and Cebu with 203-MW.

Akelco, a Class A (Mega Large) electric cooperative, has 101,948 member-consumers and 91,932 household connections in 363 barangays in 2008. It has a 12.06 percent power systems loss and 99.14 percent collection efficiency last year.