ERC moves to speed up prepaid electricity service implementation

Business Mirror
WEDNESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2011 21:17 PAUL ANTHONY A. ISLA / REPORTER


A TECHNICAL committee between the government and industry stakeholders may be formed to thresh out the issues delaying the implementation of the prepaid retail electric service (PRES) in the country.


This was the result of the meeting among Julong Julong Electric Power Co. of Shanghai Chairman Liu QiTao, Xesi Energy Systems Inc. President and Chief Executive Ariel de la Cruz and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Commissioner Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc.


Xesi and Julong, together with Symstream of Australia, Wireless Services Asia and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., have developed a mobile or text-based system for prepaid supply of electricity down to the residential customer level.


Yap-Taruc, who has oversight powers on consumer concerns and interest, said the working committee is an ideal venue for balancing consumer and utility interest when the new retail and electricity supply systems is put in place.


She added consumers have to be fully apprised and informed of how the prepaid system will work to their benefit, without sacrificing the quality and reliability of the service provided by the utility.


De la Cruz, for his part, reported to the commissioner that the pilot run on at least 10 electric cooperatives of their system of the Xesi Prepaid “Kuryentext” yielded positive and a remarkably high acceptance rating.


The features of Kuryentext, according to QiTao, include convenience, as the meter can be reloaded from any location via mobile text or SMS.


QiTao said the tracking of consumption in 30-minute intervals allows the consumer to make demand-side management decisions, where he starts switching down consumption as his credit diminishes, resulting in a more prudent use of electricity.


Moreover, the real-time tracking of transactions leaves an audit trail that will be helpful in case of consumer complaints or conflicts with utilities.


In a separate meeting, Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit noted the benefits of the prepaid system to electric cooperatives plagued by perennial collection problems.


“This is perfect for electric cooperatives with collection-efficiency concerns. And we welcomed the group’s interest in industry innovations, such as the prepaid electricity that will expectedly benefit the consumers. We also commend Julong for keeping open the prospect of establishing manufacturing meter facilities in the country, from where the rest of the region can be served,” Asirit said.