ERC working to clear approval backlog from power firms

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said on Wednesday that it has been fast-tracking the approval of provisional authorities to operate (PAOs) and the issuance of certificates of compliance (CoCs), with its meeting on Feb. 27 clearing eight applications from generation companies.

In a statement, ERC Chairman Agnes T. Devanadera said the approvals ensure additional power generating capacity will reach the transmission grid.

“This will keep a stable power supply especially during the coming summer months when the demand for electricity is expected to increase drastically. That’s why we, at the ERC, are acting with dispatch to avert load shedding or brown outs,” she said.

Ahead of the issuance of the CoC, the PAO may be issued to enable a generation company to operate its facility. The authority is issued through a notification to the company. It is valid for six months from issuance. The six-month period is included in the five-year term of the CoC that may be issued.

The companies that will receive a provisional authority to operate are:

• Peakpower San Francisco, Inc. for its diesel power plant with 5.2-megawatt (MW) capacity in Brgy. San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur;

• Peakpower Bukidnon, Inc. for its diesel power plant with 10.42-MW capacity in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon;

• SMC Consolidated Power Corp. for its Limay circulating fluidized bed coalfired thermal power plant unit 1 with 150-MW capacity in Limay, Bataan; and

• SPC Power Corp. for its Power Barge 104 bunker coal-fired diesel power plant — units 2 and 3 — with 16-MW capacity and black start diesel engine generator with 0.600-MW capacity, both in Ubay, Bohol.

The ERC also granted the conversion of PAOs to CoCs to two generation companies, namely:

• King Energy Generation, Inc. (KEGI) for its KEGI Bukidnon bunker coal-fired diesel power plant 1 with 3.2MW capacity and black start diesel engine generator with 0.310-MW capacity both in Quezon, Bukidnon; and

• Peakpower Soccsargen, Inc. for its diesel power plant with 13.94-MW capacity in Brgy. Apopong, General Santos City.

The ERC has also approved the renewal of the CoC of PowerSource Philippines, Inc. for its diesel engine power plant with 0.700-MW capacity in Bataraza, Palawan.

The regulator also said a CoC was granted to Pagbilao Energy Corp. for its Pagbilao unit 3 coal-fired thermal power plant with 420-MW capacity and black start generator with 1.04- MW capacity, which are both in Pagbilao, Quezon. —