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Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. (Davao Light) has begun preparations for a full transition of electric distribution services in parts of Davao del Norte and the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) designated the utility as the sole authorized company to operate, bill consumers, and collect payments within its expanded franchise area.
The directive, issued under ERC Case No. 2025-038 MC, seeks to eliminate overlapping operations and prevent consumer confusion following months of competing claims over service areas previously handled by the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (Nordeco). While Davao Light has welcomed the order and started transition activities, Nordeco said it would comply while continuing to challenge the implementation of the law before the Supreme Court.
ERC Directive
During a press conference in Tagum City on Monday, Davao Light Senior Assistant Vice President for North Davao Operations Arnel Bersabe said the ERC order provides much-needed clarity for consumers in the affected areas.
Under the directive, Nordeco must immediately stop billing and collection activities in Tagum City, the Island Garden City of Samal, and the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talaingod. The cooperative was likewise instructed to turn over consumer records, billing information, metering data, and other operational documents to Davao Light within 15 days to facilitate the migration of customer accounts.
The ERC also directed Nordeco to cooperate in transferring service and metering records, warning that failure to comply could result in the issuance of a show cause order.
“This order is a significant step forward for the consumers in our expanded franchise area. We are fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition, and we will work tirelessly to uphold the quality and reliability of service that our customers expect and deserve,” Bersabe said.
He assured residents and businesses that the electricity supply would remain uninterrupted throughout the transition process.
Customer Migration
As Davao Light prepares to absorb new consumers, the company appealed for patience while account migration and related administrative procedures are completed.
Bersabe said the utility has deployed a mobile contract-signing team to reach customers in remote communities, allowing consumers in far-flung municipalities to complete documentary requirements without traveling long distances.
“We confirm that we have a mobile contract signing team for specific places that are far. We will give the consumers a convenient and accessible contract signing,” he said.
The company also said additional advisories will be released in the coming days covering account migration procedures, payment channels, and customer service arrangements.
A temporary status quo remains in Davao de Oro, where Nordeco will continue operating the distribution system until Davao Light establishes or acquires its own facilities and formally assumes operations in areas covered by its expanded franchise.
Court Ruling
The latest ERC directive follows a June 25, 2026 ruling by the Regional Trial Court in Panabo City ordering Nordeco to stop billing, collections, disconnections, meter reading, maintenance, reconnections, and other distribution-related activities throughout the Island Garden City of Samal.
The court ruled that the distribution assets in Igacos were already under the possession and control of Davao Light through court-issued writs of possession, allowing the utility to exclusively perform electric distribution functions in the city.
Following the ruling, Davao Light advised customers to coordinate directly with the company for bill payments, outage reports, maintenance requests, and other electricity-related concerns. It also urged consumers to report any activities that may violate the court’s directive.
According to the ERC, Davao Light currently holds a valid Provisional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), while no temporary restraining order or injunction has been issued by the Supreme Court to suspend the implementation of Republic Act No. 12144, the law that expanded the company’s legislative franchise into portions of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro.
Nordeco Complies
Nordeco said it would abide by the ERC’s July 3 order by discontinuing operations in the affected areas, but maintained that the regulatory directive is temporary because petitions questioning Republic Act No. 12144 and Davao Light’s exercise of eminent domain remain pending before the Supreme Court.
The cooperative said it would continue serving its member-consumer-owners in the 11 municipalities of Davao de Oro that are not covered by the ERC order while pursuing all available legal remedies to challenge the implementation of the law.
The dispute stems from Republic Act No. 12144, enacted in 2025, which expanded Davao Light’s franchise into several areas previously served by Nordeco. Since then, both power distributors have figured in a series of court and regulatory proceedings over franchise rights, customer billing, operational control, and ownership of distribution assets.
For now, Davao Light said the latest ERC directive affirms the legislative intent of the law, recognizes the legal transfer of distribution assets, and prioritizes consumers’ access to transparent, reliable, and uninterrupted electric service during the transition.
Source:
https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/06/davao-light-readies-for-transition-in-davao-del-norte-igacos
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/nordeco-to-comply-with-erc-order-on-davao-light
