DOE issues guidelines to meet electrification targets

By Alena Mae S. Flores – March 20, 2024, 8:20 pm
from manilastandard.net

The Department of Energy (DOE) issued draft guidelines for the local total electrification roadmap (LTER) of distribution utilities (DUs) to help meet the government’ national target by 2028.

“To ensure that the DUs will be able to efficiently and effectively plan out its electrification projects and programs to unserved and underserved areas within its franchise area, it is necessary to issue these guidelines for the development of the DUs’ LTER,” the draft circular said.

LTER refers to a DU’s comprehensive 10-year strategic plan with an annual work plan (AWP) to accelerate total electrification in its franchise area, to be updated annually.

“All DUs, including those with 100 percent household electrification status in the reference year, shall prepare and submit its 10-year LTER which shall include an AWP to ensure timely implementation of electrification projects within its franchise areas in accordance with this circular,” it said.

It said DUs should ensure the timely submission and implementation of the annual electrification targets in the LTER and the final LTER shall be reviewed and validated by the DOE and National Electrification Administration.

The DOE, in consultation with NEA, may initiate a provision of non-fiscal incentives to DUs that exhibit proactive initiatives and notable achievements towards advancing the objectives of the total electrification program and fulfilling their obligation to provide electricity access.

The draft circular said that for electric cooperatives, the LTER should be the basis in the declaration of unserved and underserved areas that may be subject to competitive selection process for the Microgrid Systems Provider.