Razon-backed Negros Power is aiming to fully modernize Central Negros’ power distribution system by 2029, focusing on improving reliability, efficiency, and consumer access. A joint venture between Primelectric Holdings Inc. and the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), the company is pushing long-term upgrades to meet growing demand and replace outdated infrastructure.
Negros Power President and CEO Roel Z. Castro acknowledged that while some progress is already underway, noticeable improvements will take time to materialize. “We are asking for the patience and understanding of consumers as we need four more years for consumers to feel the improvements of our full rehabilitation and modernization plan,” he said.
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Crucial improvements
Just nine months after taking the reins in August 2024, Negros Power has ticked off several modernization milestones. It overhauled the Alijis Substation with higher‑capacity transformers, upgraded multiple other substations, and rebuilt the entire 30‑kilometer Bacolod–Silay 69 kilovolt (kV) line with new poles and insulators.
According to Castro, outage frequency has already dropped after field crews swapped bare conductors for insulated lines and fitted feeders with remote‑controlled circuit reclosers, load‑break, and disconnect switches.
Negros Power has also rolled out high‑efficiency transformers to balance loads and sharpen voltage quality, while a tougher anti‑theft drive is cutting technical losses and shielding paying customers from the cost of illegal hookups.
Meanwhile, the company is pushing ahead with next-phase upgrades, including a centralized control center, real-time monitoring tools, and smart grid systems like SCADA and GIS mapping. Drone-assisted thermal scanning is also being deployed to detect faults faster.
Underground cabling work along Lacson Street is in full swing and slated for completion ahead of the MassKara Festival in October.
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Better customer service
To make services more accessible, Negros Power rolled out thousands of free digital meters, opened more than 100 payment hubs, and simplified the process for new connections. It also launched a round-the-clock customer support team to handle inquiries through hotlines and online channels like Messenger.
By investing nearly P26 million, Negros Power brought electricity to 17 far-flung sitios through its Sitio Electrification Program, extending power access to 1,671 households in underserved areas.
Despite ramping up infrastructure upgrades, Negros Power has kept electricity rates in Central Negros affordable. This is made possible through strategic power supply deals and active monitoring of spot market prices to lock in cost-effective generation.
Primelectric’s bid to revive Central Negros’ aging grid formally began on February 16, 2023, when the company offered a joint‑venture deal to Ceneco and secured the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) endorsement. A plebiscite later cleared the way for congressional action, prompting the partners to file for a full distribution franchise.
Lawmakers fast‑tracked the measure, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the franchise into law in July 2024.
Sources:
https://tribune.net.ph/2025/06/08/negros-power-eyes-full-upgrade-by-2029-2
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/06/09/negros-power-completes-infra-projects