More Power Iloilo urges ‘jumpers’ to apply for legal connection

• New distribution utility MORE Power Iloilo has started the crackdown on illegal connections.

• MORE KONEK program has helped these ‘jumpers’ to be legitimate consumers through a simplified application process.

MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) is urging all those who are ‘jumpers’ to stop stealing electricity and apply for legal power connection from Iloilo City’s new distribution utility.

MORE Power made this appeal after launching the OPLAN Kontra Jumper campaign in Iloilo City barangays.

On May 14, MORE Power visited Brgy. South Baluarte in Molo district and disconnected illegal connections of 191 families. Three days after, the new DU returned to the barangay for a seminar and application processing of those families to help them become legitimate consumers.

Barangay officials assisted the ‘jumpers’ especially those who are informal settlers in submitting application requirements such as Certificate of Residency and government IDs.

Newly-appointed MORE KONEK Task Force Project Manager Ariel Castañeda said that MORE Power has installed special lanes in their office at General Luna Street for these applicants.

A representative of City Engineering Office was at hand to give them their Electrical Safety Report and Oath of Undertaking.

Castañeda added that those who have complied with all the requirements will have their electric meter installed within a week.

MORE Power has streamlined the application process for electricity connection under the MORE KONEK program so that Iloilo City residents will stop power pilferage and be legitimate consumers.

This is one of the efforts of the distribution utility to bring down systems losses which will result to lower monthly bills of the consumers.

In a press statement, MORE Power said that in 2019 under the previous distribution utility, systems losses reached a very high 9.03 percent.

Technical experts advised that a high systems loss of 9.03 percent could mean around 20,000 untraced illegal connections in Iloilo City. Legal consumers pay 6.5 percent of those losses.

For inquiries on the application for new electrical connection and other concerns, you may visit MORE Power Consumer Services Office located at Brgy. Inday, Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City (Old Profriends office beside BPI and across Highway 21 hotel). They also have rented Ocean City Restaurant as a temporary extension office which will only cater to application inquiries.