NEA chief credits power market operator for rural electricity stability
By Manila Standard Business – April 3, 2025, 7:05 pm
National Electrification Administration administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda (Courtesy: NEA/Facebook)
The head of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Wednesday lauded the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) for its role in stabilizing rural electrification.
NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, speaking at the 2025 Market Participants Update, said IEMOP’s work fostered collaboration among power generators, distribution utilities like electric cooperatives (ECs), and regulators.
“The IEMOP, as the market operator, ensures the transparency and efficiency of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), allowing power producers and consumers to participate in a competitive market,” Almeda said.
He cited WESM’s importance for ECs, enabling access to competitive and flexible power supply options, reducing consumer costs while maintaining supply stability.
“It also serves as a backup source of power in times of peak demand and supply disruptions, allowing ECs to secure electricity for their consumers without the usual considerations of long-term commitments,” he said.
Almeda reaffirmed NEA’s support for ECs through legal, institutional, financial and technical assistance, citing reforms to performance standards under his leadership.
“We introduced amendments to the performance assessment mechanisms for ECs by placing emphasis on financial and institutional parameters. Part of these reforms are the grant of merit points to electric cooperatives who are able to timely pay their power accounts with their suppliers,” he said.
