ERC welcomes business groups’ support for reasonably-priced power
By Alena Mae S. Flores – January 15, 2023, 6:50 pm
from manilastandard.net
The Energy Regulatory Commission welcomed over the weekend the support of business groups such as the Makati Business Club towards ensuring adequate, sustainable and reasonably-priced electricity.
“The ERC values the initiatives of stakeholders to participate in measures to ensure energy security in the country. Collaborative efforts between the regulator and stakeholders will draw the best ideas for policy-making and enforcement that will be beneficial to the Filipino people,” ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said.
MBC, in a meeting last week, offered its assistance to ERC in increasing consumer awareness and energy literacy and enforcement and optimizing information technology to achieve ERC’s digital transformation program.
The discussion focused on the review of the secondary price cap mechanism which is designed to moderate spikes but may be curtailing new investment, the rules on open access which is meant to allow consumers to choose their supplier but has not gained much ground and rules on renewable energy and storage batteries.
MBC expressed support for the ERC’s efforts to secure adequate and affordable electricity supply by pursuing transparent, accountable and investment-friendly policies.
The group said it would support the government’s efforts to prepare the public for higher prices while improving energy efficiency.
“Amid all the challenges in the sector, it is a confidence booster that our energy officials are all knowledgeable and professional with a high sense of urgency,” MBC chairman Edgar Chua said.
MBC also expressed support for the constant collaboration between ERC, the Department of Energy, National Transmission Co. (and industry players to find solutions to the many challenges in the sector.
The ERC’s priorities include completing its review of distribution utilities’ generation charges and releasing the results of the power supply agreement caravan by the first half.
The ERC launched last month an investigation on the accuracy and reasonableness of the generation rates being passed on by DUs to its consumers.
The nationwide investigation, prompted by the recent increases in electricity rates and the numerous complaints received from consumers, will cover all private utilities and electric cooperatives in the country and their respective power suppliers under their PSAs.
The data validation requires the submission of documents to support the detailed calculation of fuel charges that account for a significant portion of the increases in electricity rates since January 2022.
The investigation aims to confirm whether the charges passed on to the consumers were eligible costs and whether there were no hidden and extraordinary charges.
