Published
By Myrna M. Velasco
The tug-of-war as to
who will sit as officer-in-charge Commissioners of the Energy Regulatory
Commission (ERC) continues, as executives of the agency bat for appointments of
insiders.
A source from the ERC
has hinted that “preference will be in-house ad interim Commissioners” to fill
the void to be left temporarily by the suspended four Commissioners.
This is in contrast to
an option being dangled that some officials from the Department of Energy (DOE)
be temporarily designated at the power industry’s regulatory body.
Energy Secretary
Alfonso G. Cusi has already indicated that he is willing to “lend” some of the
DOE officials to the Commission – as long as they are qualified to serve in
that capacity.
The energy chief
averred that “the law requires us to abide by the year-long suspension order of
the Office of the Ombudsman against the four ERC Commissioners.”
Cusi qualified that his
department “already requested for the designation of acting Commissioners so
that ERC can continue its functions.”
Apprehensions have been
raised that if the leadership impasse at the Commission cannot be resolved
soonest, power supply in the country would lurk into scenarios of “artificial
shortfall” because applications for renewal as well as the new certificates of
compliance (COCs) of power plants may not be acted upon.
That is seen most
critical during the summer months – which is anticipated kicking off by March
and will stretch to early part of June this year.
The energy department
has been calming down the public though on “threats of blackouts,” with Cusi
assuring that “the suspension will not cause any debilitating effect to the
power supply and services in the Philippines.”
Nevertheless, he
admitted that such “may cause further delays in power projects which require
approval from a collegial submission.”
The energy chief still
indicated nonetheless that “we will see to it that this will not have any
significant impact in the short and medium term.”
On the department’s
end, Cusi noted that “the execution of the Power Development Plan covering the
medium and long-term up to 2040 will continue unhindered.”
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