4 firms keen on participating in Meralco auction for electricity requirement–exec

BY LENIE LECTURA – FEBRUARY 6, 2023
from Business Mirror

Four firms have expressed interest to participate in the competitive selection process (CSP) for the 180MW baseload and 300MW peaking requirements of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

Jose Ronald Valles, Meralco First Vice President and Head, Regulatory Management Office, said via text message that there are “four total” interested bidders. He declined to reveal the identities while the competitive biddings are ongoing.

“Both are still undergoing CSP. Hopefully, we can conclude the CSP in time for the start of delivery of supply on March 26.”

These power supply contracts (PSAs), if approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), are primarily meant to cover for the hot dry season when demand for electricity is at its peak, Valles said.

Under the approved terms of reference (TOR), the power supply agreement (PSA) for the 300MW peaking power capacity covers a five-month contract supposedly to commence on February 26 to July 25.

The PSA for the 180MW baseload requirement, meanwhile, is needed from February 26 to February 25, 2024.

Meralco had set the bid submission deadline for the 300MW CSP last February 2 and the 180MW CSP last February 1.

CSP aims to promote the needs of the consumers as presented in the Distribution Development Plan (DDPs) and Power Supply Procurement Plans (PSPPs) of the Distribution Utilities (DUs). Basically, it requires the DUs to undergo competitive biddings in procuring their capacity requirement.

The company had reported that as of end-September 2022, electricity sales rose by 6 percent to 36,553 gigawatt hours (GWh) from the previous year’s 34,398 GWh.

Sales mix continued to shift towards the commercial segment, whose share in total sales rose to 35 percent from 33 percent a year ago. Residential accounted for 35 percent from 37 percent, while industrial segment’s contribution was retained at 30 percent.