ERC wants in-house ad interim commissioners
By Myrna M. Velasco – January 20, 2018, 10:01 PM
from Manila Bulletin
The tug-of-war as to who will sit as officer-in-charge Commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) continues, as executives of the agency bat for appointments of insiders.
A source from the ERC has hinted that “preference will be in-house ad interim Commissioners” to fill the void to be left temporarily by the suspended four Commissioners.
This is in contrast to an option being dangled that some officials from the Department of Energy (DOE) be temporarily designated at the power industry’s regulatory body.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has already indicated that he is willing to “lend” some of the DOE officials to the Commission – as long as they are qualified to serve in that capacity.
The energy chief averred that “the law requires us to abide by the year-long suspension order of the Office of the Ombudsman against the four ERC Commissioners.”
Cusi qualified that his department “already requested for the designation of acting Commissioners so that ERC can continue its functions.”
Apprehensions have been raised that if the leadership impasse at the Commission cannot be resolved soonest, power supply in the country would lurk into scenarios of “artificial shortfall” because applications for renewal as well as the new certificates of compliance (COCs) of power plants may not be acted upon.
That is seen most critical during the summer months – which is anticipated kicking off by March and will stretch to early part of June this year.
The energy department has been calming down the public though on “threats of blackouts,” with Cusi assuring that “the suspension will not cause any debilitating effect to the power supply and services in the Philippines.”
Nevertheless, he admitted that such “may cause further delays in power projects which require approval from a collegial submission.”
The energy chief still indicated nonetheless that “we will see to it that this will not have any significant impact in the short and medium term.”
On the department’s end, Cusi noted that “the execution of the Power Development Plan covering the medium and long-term up to 2040 will continue unhindered.”
