Transco tries to sell sub-transmission assets to power cooperatives

The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) is in negotiations with power cooperatives for the sale of more sub-transmission assets (STAs) this month, officials said.

Transco chief operating officer Roque Corpuz said they are working out agreements with Tarlac Electric Co. and Angeles Electric Co. "We hope to firm up an agreement with these two power distribution utilities before the end of this month," he said.

Transco president Alan Ortiz, on the other hand, said negotiations are also ongoing on the sale of some of its STAs to Cagayan de Oro Electric Light and Power Co.

Transco is expected to dispose of between P6-billion to P8-billion worth of STAs in the next 27 months.

For this year alone, the transmission firm expects to raise as much as P300 million from the sale of its assets.

Early this year, Transco signed an agreement with San Fernando Light and Power Co. (SFELAPCO) in Pampanga for the sale of sub-transmission lines in the province.

The agreement allowed Transco to concentrate on its transmission function in the area as envisioned by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001.

Spanning approximately 12 kilometers, the sub-transmission lines are the Mexico-SFELAPCO line, Mexico-SMC line, and the Mexico-Elegant line, all rated at 69 kilovolts.

Aside from these power firms, Transco is also in similar talks with Cabanatuan Electric Cooperative, Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, and Pampanga I Electric Cooperative.

Negotiations with other distribution utilities and electric cooperatives, are also in the works, including those with Visayan Electric Cooperative, Davao Light and Power Co., and other Aboitiz power companies.