Meralco studies options on power supply auctions
By Alena Mae S. Flores – March 22, 2020 at 09:50 pm
from manilastandard.net
Power retailer Manila Electric Co. is studying alternatives to eliminate face-to-face interactions in the competitive selection process for its 1,200-megawatt baseload power supply in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
This developed as Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi directed all power industry stakeholders to submit business continuity plans (BCP) as part of the on-going efforts of the government to ensure electricity supply sufficiency amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
“The energy sector must consider all possible scenarios that the enhanced quarantine may bring about for our country in the coming weeks. We must be fully prepared with all necessary measures and action plans to deliver sufficient power and oil supply, which we need to survive this crisis,”Cusi said.
Cusi said all power stakeholders needed to indicate their companies’ strategies and programs to ensure the uninterrupted operation of existing power plant facilities and the immediate plans to facilitate the smooth development and implementation of ongoing power projects indicated in their BCPs.
Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said they were walking through the CSP guidelines of the DOE to evaluate the steps that previously entailed face-to-face interactions, including but not limited to the conduct of a pre-bid conference and the submission/opening of bids.
He said Meralco would then “study alternatives that would eliminate or minimize face-to-face interactions and seek guidance from the Energy Department if these will still be compliant with the CSP guidelines.” Alena Mae S. Flores
“The objective is to continue to ensure the transparency and integrity of the CSP to be conducted. The TPBAC will issue an advisory at the appropriate time,” Fernandez said.
Meralco revised its terms of reference for the conduct of the CSP for its baseload power requirement starting 2024.
