Electric cooperatives’ sales in the first quarter jumped 11 percent amid increased demand nationwide, according to the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
The numbers “show an upward trend in the demand for electricity in the rural areas, a positive surge in economic activity, including those in production, manufacturing and consumer trade being catered to and aptly provided by electric cooperatives in the past year,” NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said in a statement.
“These numbers, while showing a direct correlation between the services of the electrification sector and national growth, also validate our contention that [power cooperatives] drive the rural economy and continue to immensely contribute to the country’s [continued strong growth],” Masongsong said.
He said growth in power sales was driven by increased consumption across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
In the first three months of 2018, the 121 cooperatives under NEA’s supervision sold a total of 4,924 gigawatt hours from 4,417 gwh in the same period last year.
Residential consumers accounted for the biggest share of electricity consumed at 51 percent of total or 2,506 gwh.
Commercial establishments represented 24 percent of sales at 1,187 gwh while industrial customers had 18 percent or 881 gwh.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, all 17 of the country’s administrative regions showed positive growth in gross regional domestic product last year.
Nine of these regions exhibited faster growth: Cordillera Administrative Region posted 12.1 percent, Davao (10.9 percent), Western Visayas (8.4 percent), Soccsksargen (8.2 percent), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (7.3 percent), Cagayan Valley (7.2 percent), Calabarzon (6.7 percent), Mimaropa (6.2 percent) and Caraga (4.3 percent).
The rest maintained growth albeit slower, such as Central Luzon (9.3 percent), Metro Manila (6.1 percent), Northern Mindanao (5.9 percent), Ilocos Region (5.8 percent), Central Visayas (5.1 percent), Bicol (5.1 percent), Zamboanga Peninsula (2.3 percent) and Eastern Visayas (1.8 percent).