The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is tapping renewable energy for the remaining unenergized areas not connected to the grid to achieve nationwide electrification by next year as targeted by the government.

NEA sees RE as the answer to technology hurdles in bringing electricity service to these communities.

“By the end of this year, 100-percent of the country’s barangays (villages) will already be enjoying steady power supply,” NEA Administrator Edita S. Bueno said.

The inclination to shift to RE, she explained, is aligned with the “Greenlight at 40” strategy, which was also the theme at the recently-concluded International Convention on Rural Electrification (ICORE).

“With the evident warnings and damages of Climate Change, the convention will play a significant role in responding to the global crisis by advocating the use of renewable sources of energy, thus helping make the Earth greener,” Bueno stressed as to the government’s resolve in taking the “green path.”

She noted that the electrification of barangays helped change the economic landscape of many rural areas because of the opportunities created that propped up livelihood sources and lifestyles of the beneficiary-communities.

The NEA and the electric cooperatives reportedly collaborated to pursue the electrification of some 97,290 sitios throughout the country. Presently, about 67,257 barangays have been energized, but leaving some 30,033 still to be given access to electricity.

The electrification agency logged the following as milestone accomplishments: 8.25 million consumer connections; improvement of system loss average to 13.19%; erection of 1.86 million electric poles; construction of 274, 663 circuit kilometers of distribution lines; commissioning of 557 substation units with 4, 314 MVA capacity; installation of 11.4 million kilowatt-hour meters and the establishment of about 17,000 industries in the countryside.

Another significant accomplishment of the electrification program has been the creation of about 25,000 workforce among electric cooperatives – from the board directors, general managers, senior staff, employees and line personnel.

“Most significantly, 74 ECs to date have been recipients of various NEA awards in recognition of their outstanding performance,” Bueno said, beaming with pride on the improving performance of the electric coops which were used to be known as the “weak link” in the deregulated power industry.

“We shall intensify all our efforts until all the rural homes in the barangays and sitios shall have been enjoying the benefits of electric power and these areas shall have been transformed into vibrant communities,” the NEA administrator emphasized.