PALO, Leyte — Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II) maintained one of the lowest residential electricity rates in the country while posting strong operational performance in 2025, even as electricity demand continued to rise in its service area.
General Manager Fernan Paul Tan reported the cooperative’s accomplishments during its 44th Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) on Sunday, July 26, with over 14,000 member-consumer-owners (MCOs) registered for the event held at the Leyte Academic Center, this town.
Leyeco II now serves 96,623 MCOs from the municipalities of Palo and Babatngon and the city of Tacloban which accounts for more than 71% of its membership. Its overall energization level reached 106.91%, surpassing projected household connections.
The cooperative recorded a peak demand of 66.03 megawatts in 2025, a 1.06% increase from the previous year, reflecting continued growth in residential, commercial and industrial electricity consumption.
Despite the rising demand, Leyeco II kept its average system loss at 6.94%, below the Energy Regulatory Commission’s allowable cap of 8.25%. Its collection efficiency also improved to 98.89% from 98.53% in 2024.
Its average residential electricity rate stood at P10.1258 per kilowatt-hour, the lowest among electric cooperatives in Eastern Visayas and among the 10 lowest residential rates nationwide.
The cooperative’s performance comes as the region faces increasing electricity demand and the need for more dependable power supply and stronger distribution infrastructure.
To strengthen its energy security, Leyeco II has secured 36 megawatts of dependable power through long-term supply contracts with Green Core Geothermal Inc. for 16 MW until 2040 and KEPCO SPC Power Corp. for 20 MW until 2034.
The cooperative is also pursuing additional renewable energy sources and upgrading its distribution network, including the construction of the Babatngon Substation, rehabilitation of distribution lines and optimization of the existing 80-MVA capacity of its Sagkahan, Abucay and Campetic substations.
Tan also reported Leyeco II’s participation in the NEA-PHILRECA Task Force Kapatid program. Its “Warriors of Light” teams helped restore electricity services in neighboring electric cooperatives affected by Typhoons Opong and Tino, including Samelco I, Norsamelco and areas in Southern Leyte.
The assembly also marked LEYECO II’s 50th founding anniversary. Established on Oct. 26, 1975, the cooperative has grown from energizing its first communities to becoming a Triple-A, Mega Large Electric Cooperative serving nearly 97,000 member-consumer-owners.
Tan said Leyeco II would continue investing in modern infrastructure, securing reliable power supply, maintaining affordable electricity rates and strengthening partnerships with government agencies and other energy stakeholders to meet the region’s growing electricity needs.
The AGMA served as the cooperative’s annual forum for reporting its operational, financial and technical performance, as well as its future plans, to its member-consumer-owners. Tingog party-list Rep.Jude Acidre served as the event’s guest of speaker and honor.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
