ERC cautious on Open Access

By Alena Mae S. Flores – May 13, 2019
from manilastandard.net

The Energy Regulatory Commission expressed hope that the Supreme Court will act on the retail competition and open access, which has been the subject of a temporary restraining order since early 2017.

ERC chairman Agnes Devanadera said the agency conducted studies on how to move forward with RCOA, which allows large power users to choose their own supplier.

“The action of the ERC may be construed as something that would breach the line of the TRO. We’re very careful. Really, we have to be very careful… But of course, we have studied it and is now ready for commission deliberations,” Devanadera said.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining dated Feb. 21, 2017 enjoining the Department of Energy, ERC and its agents from implementing the RCOA rules and regulations that mandate the mandatory migration of contestable customers.

The DOE and ERC mandated that large power users choose their suppliers by Feb. 26, 2017, which is the subject of the TRO.

The Supreme Court issued a TRO on the DOE Circular No. DC2015-06-0010, Series of 2015 and ERC Resolution Nos. 5, 10, 11 and 28, Series of 2016.