CA dismisses Palawan petition vs electric coop

The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a petition filed by the Puerto Princesa City Government against the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO), upholding a lower court’s decision that the National Electrification Administration (NEA) holds jurisdiction over complaints against such entities.

In a 12-page decision dated 28 November 2025, penned by Associate Justice Emilio Rodolfo Legaspi III of the CA’s Fourteenth Division, the court affirmed the dismissal of the city’s 2019 complaint for injunction and damages against PALECO over frequent power outages.

The appellate court ruled that the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 52 correctly lacked jurisdiction over the original complaint, citing the NEA Reform Act (Republic Act 10531). Section 5 (q) of the act vests the NEA with the authority of supervision and control over electric cooperatives.

“The assailed 28 August 2020 Omnibus Order and 5 September 2022 Order of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 52, Puerto Princesa City in Civil Case No. 5886 are hereby affirmed,” the CA ruled.

The CA explained that the city’s claim, which primarily hinged on PALECO’s alleged gross negligence and failure to provide stable and adequate electricity, is purely administrative in nature.

It invoked the doctrine of primary jurisdiction, noting that the resolution of such issues requires the “knowledge, experience and expertise of the NEA.” It stated that the NEA is the very agency mandated to enforce the performance standards of electric cooperatives and their officers.