TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) — The Kalinga-Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO) is set to launch this yearc a mobile application aimed at making billing and payment more convenient for its 62,000 member-consumers in Kalinga and parts of Apayao.
During the cooperative meeting with big-load electricity consumers on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, KAELCO executives introduced its newly developed mobile application which would allow users to check their bills and make online payments.
The mobile application seeks to address common issues raised by member-consumers, including delays in payment processing and billing issuance.
KAELCO said member-consumers only need two valid identification cards to register in the mobile application.
The cooperative has recently been criticized for alleged high electricity rates, frequent blackouts, and sudden service disconnections.
KAELCO explained during the meeting that the cooperative’s higher charges compared to other electric cooperatives are due to several factors including transmission costs, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and the cooperative’s smaller consumer base.
Regarding billing due dates, KAELCO clarified that payments are due nine days from the date of billing issuance. It urged consumers to always request for official receipts when making payments to collectors in their area.
“We are doing our best to hear from member-consumers about their complaints and explain the issues to them,” KAELCO’s general manager Elvie Joven said in Ilocano during the meeting, emphasizing the cooperative’s commitment to listening to concerns to consumers. (JDP/RGA-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
