HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
By virtue of RA 6038 and later through the promulgation of PD 269, which is now amended by RA 10531, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) was created with the mandate set for total electrification of the countryside. Under the supervision of NEA, the Provincial Electric Cooperative Team (PECT) was formed and tasked to promote and assist the organization and development of Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs).
It was summer of April 24, 1972 when Quezon I electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO I) was incorporated as the twenty-second (22) electric cooperative in the country with only six original member towns in Bondoc Peninsula under its franchise represented by the following
1. Francisco A. Villamater – Padre Burgos, Quezon
2. Jose E. Mendoza – Agdangan, Quezon
3. Pablo G. Silva – Unisan, Quezon
4. Maximo F. Capino – Pitogo, Quezon
5. Francisco S. Origenes – Macalelon, Quezon
6. Isidro I. Ravanzo – Luna, Quezon
After a year, six (6) more municipalities were included in the Coop franchise area resulting to 12 member-municipalities. A year later, eleven more towns comprised the system bringing in a total of 23 member towns. In 1978, Mauban and Sampaloc in Quezon’s first district clamored for inclusion with the Coop franchise area which brought its total member to 25 towns. The last two mentioned towns, however, were loomed over and acquired later by MERALCO on September 10, 1983.
The coop coverage also includes 3 islet towns of Alabat Island whose distribution line was connected through the marvelous 1.2km submersible cable by Random Oceanering and Trans-Asia Philippines, and assisted by Balfour Beatty of England. This venture is considered as an engineering marvel that was first in Asia and in the Far East.
Two Bicol region’s provinces have also one town each connected to QUEZELCO I distribution system. The whole municipality of Del Gallego of Camarines Sur is being serviced by QUEZELCO I distribution system while Sta. Elena of Camarines Norte draws power at the Coop sub-station in Tagkawayan as sale to resale scheme. The latter, however, was formally turn-over and finally gets power from CANORECO starting January 24, 2002.
With an initial loan of P11.516M from the NEA intended for site acquisition and construction of its headquarters facilities to line construction of its six original member towns, QUEZELCO I turns to be the one of the top ranking electric cooperatives in the country today in a Mega-Large Classification.
It has to date, 23 covered municipalities represented by 13 thirteen district directors with each delegating up to three towns depending on the proximity and density of town’s membership. This 13-man Board, headed by the President is the policy-making body of the Cooperative.