Manila Bulletin
By Myrna M. Velasco
Published: June 15, 2013
Even with the scheduled commercial kick-off of retail competition and open access (RCOA) this June 26, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) noted that it will still continue to serve the contestable segment of its customers.
Meralco first vice president Ivanna G. dela Pena stressed that while the industry traverses the transition phase to a meaningful retail competition, the utility firm will adhere to the call of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the distribution utilities to continuously supply the needs of contestable customers.
Contestable customers are those end-users qualified to join the competitive regime of the restructured electricity sector.
Under RCOA, they are already allowed to contract for their own electricity supply with their preferred power suppliers.
Industry stakeholders have noted though that many of the qualified customers under open access are still navigating the terrain of power supply contracting, hence, there had been some degree of weariness on potential outcomes if they would have to seek out deals directly with power suppliers.
For its part, Meralco noted that it will help its customers understand the supply contracting aspect based on the rules set for open access.
The energy department has just recently laid down a policy statement that DUs must continually supply their customers even as transition to full RCOA will be collaboratively pushed forward by the industry. source
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