CANE POINTS: NONECO at Mayor Jaojoco and Consumers’ Crosshairs

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) has been at the receiving end of unflattering remarks from Toboso Mayor Richard Jaococo and some consumers recently.

Last May 11, the mayor posted in his personal FB page: “NONECO wala PULOS!” (inutile; useless).

Mayor Jaojoco was apparently disgusted with the electric cooperative’s service in its coverage area, which includes the local governments from EB Magalona up north to San Carlos (inclusive of Victorias, Manapla, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante, Toboso and Calatrava).

The reason behind the mayor’s outburst stemmed from Noneco’s erroneous power billing for the period March 22 to April 22 charged to the local government of Toboso. Four hours after his initial post, Mayor Jaojoco posted again: “We are over charged by 12,500 kwh equivalent to 164,576.32. They sent us a corrected bill after we complained.”

His second post included the erroneous bill charged to Toboso amounting to P164,576.32 for consuming 12,500 kWh of electricity, although the previous kWh meter reading was 21193.00 while the present meter reading was also 21193.00, which means zero consumption for March 22 to April 22. The mayor also attached to his post the corrected bill, which reflects zero consumption and zero payable amount for the municipality.

Somebody in Noneco’s meter reading or billing section fouled up big time! At any rate, Noneco immediately corrected the mistake.

“Mao na kung mayor moreklamo ilang aksyonan iadjust dayon kung ang ordinaryong kunsumedor wala juy pakialam an Noneco.” (If it’s a mayor who complains, Noneco immediately acts on it. If it’s just an ordinary consumer, Noneco does not care.) This was the comment of an FB user on Mayor Jaojoco’s second post.

Last May 15, Mayor Jaojoco again called out Noneco’s poor consumer service with his FB post: “Cashier sa NONECO sa Toboso pwerti ka SUPLADO!” (Noneco’s cashier at its Toboso Field Office is so snobbish / aloof / discourteous.)

The mayor’s post was shared 467 times and was flooded with more than 1,100 comments, as of this writing.

FB users / consumers shared their unpleasant experiences with the subject employee. One commenter stated that the cashier acts as though he is the owner of Noneco, while another consumer preferred to pay at the Noneco Escalante Field Office to avoid facing the “suplado” Toboso cashier.

When Noneco learned of the mayor’s concern, Noneco management transferred the cashier to another assignment in what Noneco reportedly referred to as “routine reshuffling” of cashiers and meter readers. Moreover, Noneco reportedly directed the subject employee to submit a written explanation on the complaint against him.

Last May 23, the mayor posted: “Kabantay mo wala nay election ang BOD sa NONECO???? Ngano kaha?” (Have you noticed there has been no election of the Board of Directors of NONECO? How come?) Attached to his post was his letter dated May 4 addressed to the National Electrification Administrator, thru the Noneco general manager, requesting for “information & updates regarding the regular schedule of the Board of Directors’ elections, particularly as it pertains to or affects our municipality.”

Unless there has been major changes in NEA policy regarding schedule of elections of Board of Directors of an electric cooperative (EC), the regular schedule of elections for every LGU in the EC’s coverage area is every three years.

Each LGU, referred to as a district, is entitled to one representative to the EC Board of Directors. Each director serves a term of three years, subject to only two re-elections, or a maximum of three terms comprising nine straight years, similar to local elective officials.

Noneco’s nine LGUs are divided into three groups. Each group of three LGUs conduct an election for their respective Board of Directors in the same year, such that there is a fresh set of three directors with new mandates every year.

The Board of Directors are empowered to determine the regular schedule of the district elections, within a certain period before the conduct of the EC’s Annual General Membership Assembly.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. It is Noneco which is in the best position to enlighten Mayor Jaojoco and the Toboso consumers regarding the National Electrification Administration policy on schedule of district election in the municipality.

Earlier this week, Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco had additional choice words addressed to Noneco, but those concerns can be more appropriately discussed in another column.

Cane Points is willing to share Noneco’s side of issues covered in this piece.* (BB)