MANILA, Philippines – The national average on system loss of the electric cooperatives has improved to 12.29-percent in 2010, almost 1.0-percent notch better than the 13-percent cap set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for such group of power utilities.

Based on the estimates of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the 0.71-percent difference in the system loss, if referenced on the prescribed ceiling, would translate to cost savings of P561.582 million for the ECs.

Onward, NEA Administrator Edita S. Bueno intimated that the target would be for the electric cooperatives to hit the mark for single-digit system loss.

“We will continue to provide assistance to our electric cooperatives for us to attain a single digit national average system loss, for the benefit of the member-consumers,” she stressed.

Although it is not much within public knowledge, Bueno emphasized that the electric cooperatives are actually infusing funds for system loss reduction and that cost savings are being plowed back to consumers through lower electricity rates.

The electrification agency is measuring the progress in the ECs’ system loss as among the benchmark that would show their improving operational performance.

The NEA further reported that of the more-than-a-hundred ECs nationwide, 23 have been placed in the roll of ECs with single digit system loss. (MMV)