ERC renews permits of three power co-ops by 5 more years

By Lenie Lectura – July 2, 2017

from Business Mirror

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) recently renewed the permits of Mindoro Grid Corp. (MGC-Igacos), AP Renewables Inc. (Apri) and Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ormeco) for five more years.

The certificates of compliance (COCs) of MGC-Igacos was extended to May 14, 2022; Apri until November 6, 2021; and Ormeco until  May 23, 2022.

The ERC’s renewal of the COCs indicates the concerned generation companies and distribution-utility continuance with their respective commercial operations for the next five  years and strict compliance with financial, environmental and technical standards.

COCs are issued by the ERC in favor of a person or entity to operate a power plant or other facilities used in generation of electricity pursuant to Section 6 of Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epira), and Section 4 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Epira.

“The ERC’s renewal of the respective COCs of MGC-Igacos, Apri and Ormeco will aid in ensuring a stable and reliable power supply in the country,” ERC Officer in Charge Alfredo J. Non said.

The renewal and issuance of the COCs of MGC-Igacos, Apri, and Ormeco was previously deferred in view of the preventive suspension of ERC Chairman and CEO Jose Vicente B. Salazar issued by the Office of President in May.

The MGC-Igacos, located at Igacos, Davao del Norte, operates diesel-generating units with an aggregate capacity of 7.56 megawatt. 

Apri operates the Makban Binary Geothermal Power Plant with a capacity of 7 MW, and is located in Santo Tomas, Batangas.   

Ormeco operates diesel-generating units with a capacity of 2.175 MW and is located in San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro.