Electricity in Ilocos Norte has always been a point of pride—after all, we are home to the famous Bangui windmills, those elegant white giants that line our coast and symbolize renewable progress. They turn steadily, tirelessly, and beautifully under the sky. But as Ilocanos close the year facing an alarming surge in electricity costs, one can’t help but wonder if those windmills are merely for show. With prices leaping by a verified 32 percent in just six months, the question posed by DOE Secretary Vicencio Dizon echoes more loudly than ever: Where truly is INEC’s energy source coming from?

During a press conference in Laoag City on November 21, Secretary Dizon confirmed what residents had long been complaining about—INEC’s electric rates have spiked from ₱7.60 in March to ₱10 per kilowatt-hour in November 2025. This is no small increase for ordinary families, many of whom already budget every peso down to the last centavo. And according to Dizon, this isn’t the first time the cooperative has faced a flood of complaints. What makes this surge especially troubling is the lack of clear explanation from INEC, leaving consumers feeling as though they’re paying into a system that refuses to account for itself.

The irony is inescapable: Ilocos Norte, a province blessed with vast renewable energy potential—from wind corridors to abundant sunlight—is currently struggling with electricity costs comparable to regions that rely on far more expensive energy sources. The Bangui windmills, icons of sustainability, should have helped soften the financial blow of electricity generation. Instead, we are left staring at our bills, wondering why they rise almost as consistently as the turbines turn.

Secretary Dizon has announced an upcoming dialogue with INEC’s board of directors, alongside a full energy audit to investigate whether the price hike is justified. This audit is not only necessary. It is overdue. Transparency is the backbone of any public-serving institution. When a cooperative cannot clearly articulate where its energy is sourced, how rates are computed, or why costs are rising despite access to renewable infrastructure, public trust naturally begins to erode.

The DOE’s broader push toward renewable energy including solar power, which has begun expanding in Calabarzon and other provinces—adds another layer to the puzzle. If other regions with fewer natural advantages can adopt solar to reduce costs, why is Ilocos Norte, arguably one of the most renewable-rich provinces in the country, experiencing some of the steepest price increases? Are the windmills and other renewable sources contributing meaningfully to the grid, or have they become mere landmarks—silent witnesses to a system that no longer reflects the promise of clean, affordable energy?

Tomorrow’s scheduled press conference with Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod will be a defining moment. This cannot be another round of vague statements, technical jargon, or deflection. Ilocanos deserve clear answers grounded in data, accountability, and honesty. The rising cost of electricity is not a simple inconvenience. It affects livelihoods, businesses, and the day-to-day dignity of thousands of families.

And so, until INEC provides transparent explanations and the DOE’s audit reveals the real story behind the numbers, one question will continue to strike us harder than any electric bill: where truly is INEC’s energy source coming from?

In a province powered by wind, water, and sun, it is unacceptable that its people remain in the dark—forced to pay more without understanding why. Until transparency flows as freely as the Ilocos wind, the mystery remains unsolved, and the burden remains squarely on the shoulders of the people.

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