BENECO eyes stronger, smarter power service in 2026

BAGUIO CITY — Consumers of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) can expect more reliable and resilient power service starting 2026 as the utility rolls out major infrastructure upgrades, system expansion, and digital modernization projects to meet growing electricity demand across Baguio City and Benguet.

Among BENECO’s biggest investments is a ₱42-million program to install insulated or “tree” wires along 13 kilometers of critical backbone lines in forested and vegetation-heavy areas prone to outages.

The project will directly benefit about 41,000 consumers, particularly those served by Feeders 8, 12, and 14 covering key areas of Baguio City, Tuba, Camp John Hay, and Loakan.

The insulated lines are designed to reduce power interruptions caused by fallen branches, wildlife contact, and harsh weather.

BENECO is also set to commercially load a new 50-megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformer at the Lamut–Beckel La Trinidad Substation on January 16, replacing an aging 20-MVA unit.

The ₱50-million upgrade is expected to stabilize power supply amid rising demand, though consumers under Feeders 11, 12, 14, and parts of Feeder 1 will experience a whole-day scheduled power interruption to facilitate the transition.

Once fully operational, the transformer will improve system flexibility, allowing load transfers among nearby substations such as Irisan, North Sanitary Camp, and Lamut during outages or maintenance.

With the upgrade, BENECO’s total system capacity rises to 225 MVA, which the cooperative says should be sufficient until 2036 based on current demand forecasts.

BENECO will also continue converting distribution lines from 13.2 kilovolts to 23 kV along the Halsema Highway, a ₱20-million project benefiting around 3,000 consumers in northern Benguet.

The upgrade will allow substations in Lamut, Atok, Buguias, Mankayan, and nearby towns to better support one another during peak loads or system disruptions.

To support field operations, the cooperative is resuming its linemen training program to strengthen manpower for sitio electrification projects and faster response to outages, particularly in far-flung areas.

On the digital front, BENECO will deploy an additional 4,000 Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) or smart meters in 2026, supported by a ₱24-million budget.

The first batch of 200 units is expected to arrive in February.

While billing statements will continue to be manually delivered pending regulatory review, pilot tests have shown the meters provide accurate, real-time readings, significantly reduce human error, and allow remote disconnection and reconnection.

BENECO is also expanding online payment options by partnering with banks and payment platforms such as BDO, ECPay, DragonPay, and GCash, while negotiating lower convenience fees to encourage wider use.

Digital bill delivery via email or SMS is also under study, pending compliance with Energy Regulatory Commission guidelines.

“These investments are necessary to ensure a stronger, more resilient power system for our consumers in 2026 and beyond,” BENECO management said.