State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) has expressed confidence of achieving this year’s corporate target of 460,000 new electricity consumer connections.

This, as latest figures from the NEA Information Technology and Communication Services Department (ITCSD) show that the number of new consumer connections steadily increased the past six months.

In the first half of the year, ITCSD Manager Roderick Padua said a total of 260,224 new consumer connections were monitored, making up 56 percent of the state-run agency’s target.

Luzon electric cooperatives (ECs) reported the biggest share of additional connections with 106,898 (41 percent), followed by Mindanao and Visayas ECs with 83,542 (32 percent) and 69,784 (27 percent), respectively.

This brought the overall level of consumer connections within the 121 ECs’ coverage areas to 12,446,716 or 83 percent of the 15,036,400 potential connections. This translates into 60 million Filipinos enjoying the benefits of electricity.

“This (status of energization) report manifests NEA and ECs’ commitment to spearhead rural development through the provision of electric service to more and more consumers,” Padua said.

Although steady progress has been made towards providing electricity to households, NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said this is not the time to be complacent as they still have a long way to go to hit this year’s target.

“While we are confident of a 100 percent accomplishment on additional connections for the year, continuing efforts for total electrification should not waver,” Masongsong said.