Published
By Myrna M. Velasco
While it had already
rendered approvals to 53 power supply agreements (PSAs) lodged by other
distribution utilities and power companies, the Energy Regulatory Commission
(ERC) sets out firm statement that it will not be acting that soon on the seven
PSA applications of utility firm Manila Electric Company (Meralco).
“We are not acting on the seven PSAs because
there’s a case although we can always say, there’s no TRO (temporary
restraining order,” ERC Chairperson Agnes T. Devanadera noted.
She qualified though
that “out of deference both to Congress and to the Supreme Court, we have not
acted on them.”
Devanadera added “we
have not acted on any because we’re anticipating the action of Congress and
we’re also anticipating the action of the Supreme Court.”
The ERC chief stressed
“since Congress is supposed to come out already with their Committee report to
be submitted to the plenary, we would not want to look as though we are racing
against any of these bodies… it’s like why do we need to be in a race against
them?”
Two of the power
projects underwritten by Meralco PSAs are on advanced stages – and are in fact
shovel-ready ventures – chiefly the proposed 1,200-megawatt Atimonan and 600MW
Redondo Pensinsula Energy coal-fired power facilities.
Of the seven projects
in the questioned power supply deals, three have yet to secure their respective
environmental compliance certificates (ECCs), hence, construction phases are
still a bit farther down the chain.
Meanwhile, it could be
gleaned from ERC data that of the 89 applications for PSAs received on the
extended deadline of the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) policy’s
implementation, two PSAs already secured final approval – that of Anda and
SunAsia power projects.
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