Power regulators draft unified policy on RCOA

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy said yesterday regulators would come up with a unified policy to guide power players on the way forward following a Feb. 21 temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court against the implementation of the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) regime.

The RCOA is a key component of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, the law that reformed the power industry by opening it to more players.

In a press briefing yesterday, Energy Undersecretary William Fuentebella said the DOE, the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Philippine Electricity Market Corp., the operator of the country’s electricity market, would comply with the Supreme Court.

“We will talk with ERC and PEMC for a unified policy for players to be guided,” he said.

He said the unified position of the DOE, ERC and PEMC would allay concerns raised by market players on the impact of the TRO and provide a “balanced playing field” to those who have signed to participate in the open access regime.

At the same time, he said DOE would also explore legal remedies.

The Supreme Court acted on the petition filed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, San Beda College Alabang Inc., Ateneo de Manila University and Riverbank Development Corp. which said customers must be given a choice to stay with their current distribution utility suppliers.

There are still around 20 percent or 221 contestable customers who have not chosen their own suppliers prior to the Feb, 26 deadline set by ERC and the department.