Agusan power firm faces class suit

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – A member of the city council led seven other consumers in filing a class suit against the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO) for its alleged failure to convert the power firm into a cooperative.

In October last year, a group of ANECO consumers voted in a referendum to convert the power firm to a cooperative registered under the National Electrification Administration (NEA). 

In November, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)issued a certificate declaring ANECO as a cooperative after it passed the requirements set by the CDA.

In December, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued a certificate exempting ANECO from paying value added, income, percentage, excise tax and other taxes.

The BIR also exempted consumers from paying system loss taxes, VAT revenues on distribution supply, metering and lifeline subsidy.

In their petition, the complainants alleged ANECO still collects and continues to collect taxes from member consumers despite the BIR and CDA certifications.

In a radio interview, ANECO spokesperson Frank Guijulde said the complainants erred in filing the complaint as ANECO’s legitimate name is Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. He said the complaint did not carry the “Inc.” in their complaint.

The complainants told The STAR that they were referring to the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc., which is the sole power supplier in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte.