Sunday, June 19, 2011

Meralco eyes license for open access regime

Business World Online
Posted on June 19, 2011 08:07:13 PM

DISTRIBUTION utility Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) applied for a retail electricity supplier license in preparation for the open access regime in the next six months, the company said in a statement over the weekend.

The retail electricity supplier (RES) license will allow Meralco to serve as a metering service when users of one megawatt (MW) and up get to choose where to source their energy. The utility filed its application on June 17 with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

“Meralco will establish its own RES to provide contestable customers the power of choice in their electricity provider while continuing to experience the full services of Meralco. Under open access, contestable customers may now choose their electricity service provider while Meralco will continue to be the networks and metering service provider,” said Meralco Chief Operating Officer Oscar S. Reyes in the statement.

The RES license is for generators and distributors who wish to “sell broker, market or aggregate electricity to the contestable market.”

The ERC announced last week it will declare open access for electricity on Dec. 26 which will allow end-users to choose where to source energy.

At first, only users with a demand of one MW and up per day will have the option of changing distributors or to directly connect to a power generator. After the initial implementation, users who demand at least 750 kilowatt-hours will be part of the contestable market.

Open access is one of the aims of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Meralco earlier said there are around 500 customers in the contestable market.“We hope that our customers will continue to source their power needs from us, along with a range of other services that we provide,” said Mr. Reyes.

Meanwhile, SN-Aboitiz Power Corp. received its RES license from the ERC last week.“SN-Aboitiz Power through the RES, is proud to support the growing power industry in the Philippines...,” said Emmanuel V. Rubio, SN-Aboitiz Power president, in a statement. -- 
Emilia Narni J. David

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