The Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) announced on May 7, 2026, that it will temporarily suspend electricity service disconnections and offer a deferred payment arrangement for qualified member-consumer-owners (MCOs) covering the billing period of May to July 2026, in compliance with a directive issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) under Executive Order No. 110.
The advisory, signed by NORECO II General Manager Atty. Fe Marie D. Dicen-Tagle, covers all residential and non-residential consumers within the cooperative's franchise area in Negros Oriental. The measure applies to electricity bills incurred during the three-month covered period and takes effect immediately.
EO No. 110 and the ERC Directive Behind the Relief Measures
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 110 on March 24, 2026, declaring a State of National Energy Emergency across the Philippines. The declaration came amid concerns over thinning power supply margins and rising electricity costs nationwide.
In response, the ERC issued an advisory directing all electric power industry stakeholders — including distribution utilities and electric cooperatives like NORECO II — to implement temporary consumer protection measures for the May to July 2026 billing period. NORECO II's compliance advisory was formally issued and approved for public dissemination on May 7, 2026.
According to the advisory, the measures are intended to provide relief to electricity consumers during a period of heightened energy concern at the national level, while ensuring that the delivery of electric service remains continuous and reliable.
Three-Month Suspension of Service Disconnection
Under the ERC directive as implemented by NORECO II, the disconnection of electric service for non-payment of bills covering the May 2026 to July 2026 billing period will be temporarily suspended for both residential and non-residential consumers.
NORECO II emphasized in its advisory that this suspension does not constitute a waiver of payment obligations. Electricity bills incurred during the covered period remain due and payable. Consumers are advised not to interpret the suspension as an exemption from settling their accounts.
The cooperative reminded MCOs that while service will not be cut for non-payment during the covered months, accumulated balances will still need to be settled in accordance with the terms of any payment arrangement entered into by the consumer.
Staggered Payment Scheme for Low-Consumption Households
A deferred and staggered payment arrangement is also available specifically to consumers whose monthly electricity consumption does not exceed 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh). This threshold is consistent with the ERC's classification of lifeline or low-income electricity users.
Under the scheme, bills for May, June, and July 2026 may be deferred and paid in installments spread over a minimum of three months. The amortization payments will be reflected in subsequent billing statements beginning with the May 2026 bill itself.
NORECO II's advisory includes an illustrative example based on the ERC's sample computation to help consumers understand how the staggered arrangement works in practice.
How the Staggered Payment Works: An Illustrative Example
Based on the ERC's illustrative model as cited in the NORECO II advisory, a consumer with the following bills — P900 in May 2026, P900 in June 2026, and P1,200 in July 2026 — would have their deferred payments spread across five billing months, from May to September 2026.
Under the sample amortization schedule, the total amount due each month would be structured as follows:
- May 2026: P300 (amortization for May deferred bill only)
- June 2026: P600 (amortizations for May and June deferred bills)
- July 2026: P1,000 (amortizations for May, June, and July deferred bills)
- August 2026: P1,700 (current bill of P1,000 plus amortizations for June and July deferred bills)
- September 2026: P1,400 (current bill of P1,000 plus final amortization for July deferred bill)
NORECO II noted that the figures in the sample table are for reference purposes only and are based on the illustration provided under the ERC Advisory. Actual billing amounts and amortization schedules will vary depending on each consumer's consumption and outstanding balance.
NORECO II Appeals to Financially Capable Consumers
While the relief measures are designed to assist households and businesses that may be struggling financially, NORECO II appealed to MCOs who remain financially capable to continue paying their electricity bills on time.
In a statement included in the advisory, the cooperative said that timely payments from financially stable consumers are essential to ensuring the cooperative's ability to maintain continuous and reliable electric service delivery across its franchise area in Negros Oriental.
The cooperative stressed that the deferred payment scheme and the disconnection suspension are targeted relief measures — not blanket exemptions — and that consumers who can pay should do so to support the stability of the electric service system.
NORECO II General Manager Issues Formal Advisory
The advisory was formally signed and approved for public dissemination by NORECO II General Manager Atty. Fe Marie D. Dicen-Tagle on May 7, 2026. It was addressed to all MCOs within the cooperative's franchise coverage area.
NORECO II operates from its main office at the NORECO II Building, Real Street, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Consumers seeking clarification on the relief measures may contact the cooperative at trunkline numbers (035) 225-7071 or (035) 225-7072, or via email at ogm@noreco2.com.ph.
National Energy Emergency: Context of EO No. 110
Executive Order No. 110, signed by President Marcos on March 24, 2026, declared a State of National Energy Emergency in the Philippines. The declaration was prompted by concerns over tightening power supply reserves and increasing electricity prices affecting consumers nationwide.
Under the EO, relevant government agencies, including the ERC, were directed to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of the energy emergency on consumers. The ERC subsequently issued advisories requiring distribution utilities and electric cooperatives across the country to implement consumer protection measures, including the temporary suspension of disconnections and the provision of deferred payment options for qualifying consumers.
NORECO II's May 7, 2026 advisory represents the cooperative's formal compliance with those national-level directives. The measures cover bills issued over a three-month window — May, June, and July 2026 — and are set to wind down as the amortization schedules conclude by September 2026 for consumers who avail of the full deferred payment arrangement.
Consumers are encouraged to visit NORECO II's official channels or contact the cooperative directly for guidance on how to apply for or confirm eligibility under the deferred payment scheme.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of NORECO II