Beneco incurs P2M revenue loss

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (May 23) — More than P1.4 million of Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Beneco) poles, transformers and other equipments were destroyed by super typhoon Cosme over the weekend that caused massive power outages in Baguio and Benguet.

Beneco Operations and Maintenance supervisor Zac Torres said that 23 crews made up of two-men plus eight contractors with nine personnel each worked 24 hours to restore power especially in Baguio City where the typhoon hit the hardest, and where most of the damaged equipment were located.

Beneco also lost P2 million estimated revenue losses due to Cosme, according to corporate services department community relations officer Jason Wayet.

A total of 41 poles, seven transformers, and 102 fuse links had to be repaired or replaced by the maintenance crews during the onslaught of the typhoon, in an effort to restore power soonest.

The seven Beneco transformers that were damaged alone cost Beneco P829,500.00, while the 41 damaged poles cost P466,687.85, and the line materials (wires) that were replaced cost P91,608.54. These made up the bulk of the cost wrought by Typhoon Cosme.

OMD department manager Rocky Pallogan said about 75% of Beneco’s area of responsibility will have light by Friday and 100% by next week.

“The damages exacerbated by landslides hampering the Beneco crew’s trucks from reaching far-flung barangays of Benguet to do their line patrol and restoration, makes it difficult to reach 100% restoration of power, but our linemen have been working non-stop,” Pallogan said.

In Baguio City, only individual residences that were isolated due to cut-lines, burned meters, and damaged transformers are the ones remaining without light.

In Itogon, parts of Sablan and Sto. Tomas 50% remain without electricity.

From Camp 4 down to Camp 1, both in Tuba, Benguet, restoration is also ongoing, while at the Sto. Tomas area after Green Valley, the heavy maintenance crews are replacing eight poles, according to Pallogan.. # Laarni S. Ilagan/Beneco