NEA taps UP to strengthen electric coops’ capabilities under deregulated market
By Alena Mae S. Flores – January 30, 2024, 8:15 pm
from manilastandard.net
State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) sought the services of educators from the University of the Philippines (UP) to provide competency training and certification programs in electric power distribution system engineering.
NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and UP Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to jointly undertake research, training and technical advisory programs within the frameworks of Republic Act (RA) No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) and R.A. 10531 or the NEA Reform Act of 2013.
A ceremonial signing of the MOU was held on Jan. 18, 2024 at the NEA Diliman, Quezon City. UP Vice Chancellor Jerwin Agpaoa signed the document on behalf of Vistan.
The state university also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NEA for a related project.
The NEA said the collaboration with UP intends to better prepare electric cooperatives (ECs) in competing and operating under a deregulated electricity market and strengthen their technical capability and financial viability.
UP, through its National Engineering Center (NEC), will work with the NEA-EC Training Institute (NETI) in facilitating the competency training and certification program to develop and advance the skills of electric co-op engineers and executives in distribution system analysis, planning and design for compliance with the Philippine Grid and Distribution Codes.
It also includes training on distribution system operation and maintenance, and automation and control for safety, reliability and efficiency; distribution utility capital expenditures and operational expenses planning, economics, ratemaking, and tariff design; power supply planning, procurement, contracting, and aggregation; electricity trading, retail electricity supply under the retail competition and open access policy and organizational skills, financial planning, and management.
Under the MOA, NEA will institutionalize the Competency Training and Certification Program for distribution utility board of directors, managers and engineers in human resource development programs and/or other relevant programs of NEA and the ECs.
The partnership will require a series of seminars and trainings for the ECs’ board of directors and managers in terms of policy- and decision-making to broaden the perspective of the electricity market under the EPIRA and other laws.
