The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the electric cooperatives (ECs) have crossed yet another milestone in the rural electrification program despite the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The NEA, in partnership with the 121 non-profit power distribution utilities across the country, passed the 14 million mark in consumer connections after electrifying over 150,000 new consumers in the third quarter of the current year.
Latest data from the NEA Information Technology and Communication Services Department (ITCSD) showed the overall consumer connections now have reached 14,008,603 within the coverage areas of the ECs.
About 6.574 million or 46.93 percent of the overall connections are located in Luzon; 3.747 million or 26.75 percent are found in the Visayas; and 3.688 million or 26.32 percent are in Mindanao.
“This is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the agency and the 121 ECs nationwide to provide electricity to the remaining households in remote and rural areas despite the coronavirus restrictions,” NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said.
For the third quarter alone, the NEA ITCSD data showed the ECs delivered 156,075 additional consumer connections, bringing the number of new connections to 365,856 or 80 percent of the 460,000 corporate target for 2020.
The number was higher compared to the 75,346 new connections recorded in the second quarter and 134,435 consumers in the first quarter of the current year.
The NEA ITCSD data also showed that the number of unserved consumers in rural areas is now down to 1.686 million based on the 2015 census. ### (The National Electrification Administration (NEA)
