DoE: No power disruption despite ERC constraints

THE Department of Energy ( DoE) and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) agreed to allow power generation - cates of Compliance (COCs) or with pending COC applications with the Energy Regulatory Commission ( ERC) to operate and trade in the WESM.

The decision is in line with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s assurance that he would not allow any disruption in the country’s power supply as a result of the delay in the processing of applications before ERC including COC applications due to the suspension of its four commissioners.

“The move aims to protect electricity consumers by preventing disruptions in WESM transactions while the ERC issue is being sorted out,” Cusi said after approving the resolution on the agreement with the Board of Directors of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation the operator of the WESM.

“The paramount consideration is the overall protection of public interest and the security of the supply of power,” he said.

He also directed PEMC and the DoE to work closely with the ERC to ensure the continuing operations of existing plants and to allow power generation from new plants that will be completed.

Under the DoE-PEMC resolution, power generation companies with expired COCs can continue trading upon proof of submission of their application for the renewal of their COC with ERC.