Split Wesm Trading Registration Pushed

For Participants Of Open Access

Manila Bulletin

By MYRNA M. VELASCO

December 1, 2012, 2:41pm

A ‘segmentized’ or split registration of participations in the open access and retail competition (OARC) regime is being pushed at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.
Cited as an example is the group of SM Malls -- that for it to be listed as trading participant in the spot market, its process of registration shall be done per branch. The same applies for all conglomerates or businesses with array of subsidiaries.
“So if SM has more than 100 branches which will join open access, then they will have to register individually, and not as entities just belonging under one corporation,” a source from the spot market has explained.
WESM operator Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) further disclosed that protocols on registration for open access participants are still being firmed up.
Initial count has placed open access qualifiers at more than 800 from the Luzon grid alone; but with the proposed system of registration, it was noted that the list will get longer in time.
In fact, the enhancements at the information technology infrastructure to underpin open access and the envisioned competitive retail market will gobble up preparation time, thus, full commercial kick-off of open access is slated fourth quarter of 2013 yet.
This early, however, the spot market operator is already raising worries over probable system glitches that it may encounter with the sudden deluge of data that will be integrated into its IT-based market management system.
PEMC is still seeking regulatory approval on its budgetary requirements for the upgrading of its MMS platform to prepare for an expanded base of WESM trading participants.
Under open access, WESM will serve as the central registration body (CRB) with mandate that all qualified end-users shall be integrated as either direct or indirect WESM participants. To join the open access roll, end-users must have at least one megawatt average peak demand within the prescribed billing cycle.
Apart from registration, the spot market operator will also facilitate switching processes for customers as they may wish to do so within allowable timeframe; as well as the matters relating to billings and settlements.
Despite some delays, stakeholders in the deregulated power industry are at last seeing some glimmer of hope with the government’s pronouncement that trial run will finally commence around March this year. (MMV)    source