Electricity consumers under the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) will be protected from service disconnection for three months, with the cooperative formally announcing a temporary halt on power cutoffs and a deferred billing arrangement for eligible member-consumer-owners (MCOs) covering May, June, and July 2026. The measure, issued on May 7, 2026, places NORECO II in compliance with directives flowing from Executive Order No. 110, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and a corresponding advisory from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The official advisory, bearing the signature of NORECO II General Manager Atty. Fe Marie D. Dicen-Tagle, applies to all consumers — both residential and non-residential — within the cooperative’s franchise territory in Negros Oriental. It takes effect immediately and covers electricity charges billed during the three-month window.
The National Energy Emergency Behind the Relief Measures
The policy backdrop for these consumer protections begins at the highest level of government. On March 24, 2026, President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 110, formally declaring a State of National Energy Emergency throughout the Philippines. The declaration was prompted by mounting concerns over shrinking power supply reserves and escalating electricity costs that have been placing pressure on consumers across the country.
Acting under the authority of EO No. 110, the Energy Regulatory Commission issued its own advisory directing all stakeholders in the electric power industry — distribution utilities and electric cooperatives alike — to roll out consumer protection mechanisms for the May to July 2026 billing cycle. NORECO II’s formal compliance document, released on May 7, 2026, is the cooperative’s direct response to that national-level mandate.
The relief measures are explicitly framed as assistance to electricity consumers during a period of heightened national energy concern, while preserving the continuity and reliability of electric service delivery throughout the cooperative’s coverage area.
Three-Month Moratorium on Disconnections
For the duration of the covered billing period, NORECO II will not disconnect any residential or non-residential consumer for failure to pay electricity bills issued from May through July 2026. The suspension is effective immediately and applies across the cooperative’s entire franchise area.
However, NORECO II was firm in clarifying that this moratorium does not erase or waive any consumer’s payment obligations. All bills issued during the covered period remain outstanding and must eventually be settled. Consumers are expressly cautioned against treating the suspension as a full exemption from their financial responsibilities to the cooperative.
The cooperative reminded its MCOs that any balances that accumulate during the three-month suspension period will be subject to repayment under the terms of whatever payment arrangement a consumer enters into, and that these obligations will carry through into subsequent billing months.
Staggered Payment Option for Low-Consumption Households
Alongside the disconnection moratorium, NORECO II is making available a deferred and staggered payment arrangement targeted specifically at consumers whose monthly electricity usage does not exceed 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh). This ceiling is consistent with the ERC’s established classification for lifeline or low-income electricity users.
Under this arrangement, electricity bills for May, June, and July 2026 may be deferred and then repaid in installments spread over a minimum of three months. Amortization payments will begin appearing on billing statements starting with the May 2026 bill, gradually incorporating deferred amounts from subsequent months as the repayment schedule unfolds.
NORECO II’s advisory includes a sample computation drawn directly from the ERC’s illustrative model, providing consumers with a concrete reference for understanding how their monthly dues would be structured if they avail of the full deferred payment option.
Sample Amortization Schedule: How the Numbers Work
Using the ERC’s illustrative example as cited in the NORECO II advisory, the following scenario demonstrates how the staggered payment scheme operates in practice. Assume a qualifying consumer receives bills of P900 in May 2026, P900 in June 2026, and P1,200 in July 2026. Under the deferred arrangement, repayment is spread across five billing months — May through September 2026 — as follows:
- May 2026: P300 — covering the first amortization installment for the deferred May bill
- June 2026: P600 — covering amortizations for both the May and June deferred bills
- July 2026: P1,000 — covering amortizations for all three deferred billing months
- August 2026: P1,700 — composed of a current bill of P1,000 plus continuing amortizations for the June and July deferred amounts
- September 2026: P1,400 — composed of a current bill of P1,000 plus the final amortization installment for the July deferred bill
NORECO II emphasized that the figures presented in this schedule are purely illustrative and are based solely on the ERC Advisory’s reference computation. Every consumer’s actual billing amounts, deferred balances, and amortization schedules will differ based on individual consumption levels and outstanding account balances. Consumers are encouraged to reach out to NORECO II directly for a personalized computation.
Cooperative Calls on Capable Consumers to Keep Paying
While acknowledging that the relief measures are designed to ease the burden on financially vulnerable households and businesses, NORECO II included a direct appeal in its advisory to MCOs who remain in a stable financial position: please continue to pay your electricity bills on time.
The cooperative stressed that prompt payment by consumers who are able to do so is critical to sustaining the cooperative’s operational capacity. Maintaining a steady inflow of payments allows NORECO II to keep electric service continuous and dependable for all consumers within its franchise area, including those who are availing of the deferred payment arrangement.
NORECO II was clear in framing both the disconnection suspension and the staggered payment scheme as targeted instruments of relief — not universal exemptions from billing obligations — and urged those with the means to settle their accounts to do so without delay.
Advisory Formally Issued by NORECO II General Manager
The advisory was signed and authorized for public release by General Manager Atty. Fe Marie D. Dicen-Tagle on May 7, 2026. It was directed to all MCOs within the cooperative’s franchise coverage and marks NORECO II’s formal compliance with the national directives issued under EO No. 110 and the corresponding ERC advisory.
NORECO II’s main office is located at the NORECO II Building, Real Street, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Consumers who wish to inquire about eligibility for the deferred payment scheme, request a personalized amortization schedule, or seek clarification on any aspect of the relief measures may contact the cooperative through its trunkline numbers: (035) 225-7071 or (035) 225-7072. The cooperative may also be reached via email at ogm@noreco2.com.ph.
Relief Timeline: What Consumers Should Expect
For consumers who avail of the full staggered payment arrangement, the relief period effectively spans from May 2026 through September 2026, when the final amortization installments under the three-month deferred billing window are scheduled to conclude. During this entire period, NORECO II’s systems will reflect the adjusted billing structure as outlined in the payment scheme.
Consumers are advised to monitor their billing statements closely throughout this period and to proactively coordinate with NORECO II if any discrepancies or concerns arise. The cooperative has urged MCOs to visit its official channels or contact its offices directly to confirm their eligibility status and ensure that their payment arrangements are properly documented and reflected in their accounts.
The measures collectively represent NORECO II’s compliance with the nationwide effort — initiated through EO No. 110 and implemented through ERC directives — to protect electricity consumers during the declared State of National Energy Emergency, while preserving the financial and operational health of the country’s electric cooperatives and distribution utilities.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of NORECO II
