April 25, 2025 – MANILA — A recent province-wide survey has revealed growing dissatisfaction among Batangas residents over the unreliable electricity service provided by BATELEC 1 and BATELEC 2. The findings show that frequent outages are eroding public confidence in the province’s two largest electric cooperatives, with many residents now considering alternative providers.
The survey, conducted by Capstone-Intel Corporation, covered all 34 cities and municipalities of Batangas and included 1,200 respondents. Using Probability Proportional to Size sampling to ensure representativeness, the study found that 62 percent of respondents experience one to two outages per month, while others reported as many as ten.
Among the hardest hit are consumers served by BATELEC 2, with 93 percent reporting multiple interruptions. In comparison, 81 percent of BATELEC 1 customers reported similar experiences. These brownouts typically last one to two hours, but some extend to three hours.
In contrast, residents in areas served by other distribution utilities reported fewer disruptions, highlighting a significant difference in service reliability.
“These findings underscore a widening gap in electricity service across the province,” said Dr. Guido David, Chief Data Scientist of Capstone-Intel. “Reliable electricity is not just a convenience—it’s a prerequisite for economic growth and quality of life.”
The survey also tracked consumer satisfaction, revealing that BATELEC 1 and BATELEC 2 both scored below the provincial average of 4.09. BATELEC 1 received a rating of 3.96, and BATELEC 2 scored 3.90. Their customer service ratings also lagged, with scores of 3.80 and 3.90 respectively, compared to the average of 4.04.
Significantly, many residents expressed a desire to switch providers. Among respondents served by BATELEC 2, the willingness to transfer was particularly strong.
In response to mounting criticism, BATELEC II issued a public statement in late 2023, attributing the outages to environmental causes. “The power interruptions across Batangas are due to storms and other weather disturbances that cause damage to power lines and insulations,” said Joan Orias, Consumer Services and Public Relations Manager of BATELEC II.
With midterm elections approaching, power reliability has emerged as a major political issue. A significant portion of respondents said they are willing to vote for candidates who prioritize resolving Batangas’ electricity issues. Support for such candidates was highest among BATELEC 1 consumers.
Capstone-Intel concluded that improving service reliability is essential for the province’s development, noting Batangas’ role as a hub for industrial zones, ports, and growing towns. Dr. David emphasized, “This survey is a wake-up call—not just for utilities, but for government leaders as well. The people of Batangas are demanding dependable power, and they’re paying attention to who delivers it.”
The survey was conducted in April 2025 and had equal male and female representation among respondents.
Read the full study result here: https://www.capstone-intel.com/a-study-on-the…/
