MANILA, Philippines – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has decided to move to April the effectivity date of the competitive selection process (CSP) policy, which directs all distribution utilities (DUs) and electric cooperatives (ECs) to conduct bidding to secure power supply deals.
In a resolution, the ERC restated the effectivity of the CSP resolution to April 30.
“All PSAs (power supply agreements) executed on or after the said date shall be required, without exception, to comply with the provisions of the CSP resolution,” the ERC said.
The decision to move the implementation date came after clarifications from stakeholders when the power regulator passed the CSP resolution on Nov. 6, 2015.
“Right after we issued the resolution in Nov. 6, we received a lot of request to be accepted for filing as parties are already in the final stage of negotiation, about to sign the contract or have already signed the contract,” ERC spokesperson Floresinda Digal said in a text message.
After the November implementation of CSP, the ERC has received at least 15 letters of request for exemption from conducting biddings.
The ERC said moving the effectivity date allows a “period of transition for the full implementation of the CSP resolution.
The CSP policy was issued by former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla before vacating his post last July 10, 2015.