The Philippine Star

Group seeks moratorium on FIT-All

- By DANESSA RIVERA

Consumer group Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) is urging the power regulators to implement a moratorium on all feedin tariff allowance (FIT-All) applicatio­ns amid lower renewable energy rates.

LKI urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to suspend resolution of the FIT-All pending applicatio­ns.

Its president, former Trade undersecre­tary Victor Dimagiba, said there is an urgent need for the ERC to sit down with the stakeholde­rs and discuss the merits of continuing the collection of the FIT-All.

Billed to all on-grid electricit­y consumers, the FIT-All covers payments to renewable energy developers.

Currently, consumers are being charged a FIT-All rate of P0.2563 per kilowatt-hour (kwh). The National Transmissi­on Corp. (TransCo), which manages the FIT-All fund, has a pending applicatio­n to increase the rate to P0.2932 per kwh for 2018.

However, TransCo’s applicatio­n for 2019 is asking for a lower FIT-All rate of P0.2780 per kwh.

Moreover, LKI cited renewable energy is being offered to distributi­on utilities for as low as P2.90 per kwh, based on industry sources.

Dimagiba also observed that in fact, ERC has regressed all FIT rates to lower amounts.

With all these factors, LKI said there is no need to approve the 2018 FIT-All applicatio­n when TransCo’s 2019 applicatio­n already shows a lower amount.

Dimagiba said if ERC takes action and suspends the resolution of the pending applicatio­ns, ERC will greatly benefit consumers and temper the effects of inflation by providing breathing space from increasing costs.

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