BAGUIO CITY — Residents and business owners in Baguio City and Benguet are voicing frustration over persistent power outages, questioning the reliability of electricity service as rates and operating costs continue to rise.

Consumers said power disruptions occur not only during severe weather but also on otherwise fair-weather days. While acknowledging the efforts of line crews who work under hazardous conditions to restore electricity, residents are calling on the management and grid engineers of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) to pursue long-term infrastructure improvements rather than relying mainly on temporary fixes.

Residents who aired their concerns on a community social media page said unpredictable outages disrupt daily activities and livelihoods, particularly those of small businesses and remote workers who depend on a stable power supply.

They also pointed to Beneco’s role as the sole power distributor in Baguio City and Benguet, saying this carries a greater responsibility to provide reliable service.

Some consumers questioned whether the frequency of unscheduled outages indicates a need to modernize grid protection systems and equipment. They also called for greater transparency on infrastructure spending, maintenance programs and planned improvements.

Residents appealed to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and other local officials to help facilitate dialogue and press for greater accountability. They acknowledged that local governments do not directly operate or regulate electric cooperatives but said local intervention could help bring the concerns to the proper agencies.

Some civic groups and consumers called for Beneco to release operational data showing the causes of outages, infrastructure investments, and the progress of substation and distribution-system improvements.

Others, however, urged a balanced assessment of the cooperative’s challenges, noting that maintaining a distribution network in mountainous terrain is inherently difficult. They said vegetation clearing, routine maintenance and equipment upgrades are necessary preventive measures and that extreme weather, falling trees, transmission constraints and equipment failures can cause unavoidable interruptions.

The regulatory framework for electric cooperatives also limits the direct role of local governments. Primary regulatory authority rests with national agencies, including the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Electrification Administration.

Major infrastructure projects and tariff adjustments are subject to formal regulatory and administrative processes, making verified operational data and public transparency important in assessing the cooperative’s performance.