Table of Contents
Consumers in Davao del Norte and the Island Garden City of Samal are facing uncertainty over electricity billing and service arrangements as Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) and Davao Light and Power Co. (Davao Light) continue to assert competing claims over power distribution operations amid ongoing legal disputes.
The conflict has intensified following Davao Light’s declaration that it now has full authority to operate across Davao del Norte under Republic Act (RA) No. 12144, while Nordeco maintains that court cases challenging the implementation of the law and the transfer of assets remain unresolved.
The dispute has raised concerns among consumers who are unsure where to pay their electricity bills, whom to approach for service requests, and which utility currently holds operational authority in their areas.
Conflicting Claims Over Operational Control
In a statement, Nordeco said it continues to operate within its franchise areas despite what it described as an ongoing and disputed takeover by Davao Light, a distribution utility under Aboitiz Power Corp.
The electric cooperative urged consumers to report and document incidents involving the replacement of Nordeco’s kilowatt-hour meters by Davao Light personnel.
Nordeco also rejected Davao Light’s assertion that it had already assumed full operations in the affected franchise areas as of May 26, calling the claim “baseless and unlawful” while legal proceedings remain pending before the courts.
According to Nordeco, several issues surrounding the transfer of assets and operational control are still under judicial review. The cooperative said it has sought the intervention of the Supreme Court to clarify and reconsider recent rulings that it said emphasized coexistence between the two power distributors.
The cooperative added that cases concerning the disputed takeover and possession of Nordeco assets remain pending before the Regional Trial Court and have likewise been raised before the Supreme Court.
“These matters are not yet final and are still being decided by the courts,” Nordeco said.
Nordeco currently provides electricity service to 16 municipalities and two cities across Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.
Davao Light Cites Court Rulings
Davao Light, however, maintained that it has the legal authority to operate throughout Davao del Norte.
The company said its authority stems from RA 12144, which expanded its franchise coverage to include areas in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro. According to Davao Light, the law has already been upheld by the Supreme Court.
The utility also pointed to a writ of possession that it said authorizes it to lawfully operate in the City of Tagum and the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, Talaingod, and other covered areas.
Davao Light previously secured government approval to expand its operations into territories formerly served by Nordeco. A court had also granted the company control of Nordeco assets in Samal Island, a development that paved the way for the transition of power distribution services in the area.
The company said it began operating in Samal Island on Feb. 26, 2026, and expanded operations to other parts of Davao del Norte on May 26, 2026.
Billing Confusion
As both utilities continue to stake their claims, consumers have reported growing confusion over billing and service transactions.
Several residents in Davao del Norte have questioned whether they should continue paying Nordeco or shift payments to Davao Light, especially as both firms issue public statements asserting authority over certain areas.
Davao Light sought to address the uncertainty by insisting that consumers within the affected territories should settle their electricity bills directly with the company.
“The billing and collection are rightfully to Davao Light. That’s a fact and that is according to law,” Davao Light President Enriczar Tia said.
Tia also argued that because Davao Light is already operating and managing distribution assets in the areas under dispute, functions such as disconnection, reconnection, and other customer services should be carried out exclusively by Davao Light.
He warned that any similar actions performed by another entity could be considered unauthorized and encouraged consumers to report incidents through the company’s hotline.
Nordeco has maintained that it still possesses authority to issue billing statements, collect payments, disconnect service, and undertake related operational functions pending the final resolution of legal proceedings.
The conflicting positions have left some consumers uncertain about how to proceed, particularly in communities transitioning from one distributor to another.
Source:
https://business.inquirer.net/593087/nordeco-stays-operational-amid-davao-lights-takeover-claims
