Contrary to a column posted on a newspaper, none of the seven power supply agreements (PSAs) of the Meralco involved in an alleged midnight deals have been approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
In a joint hearing in Congress on Tuesday, Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate cited a column posted saying that the seven PSAs have been approved by the commission.
“There is no such decision,” ERC commissioner Josefina Asirit said, adding that there were seem to be no basis for the statements made in the column mentioned by the congressman.
When asked about the status of the seven PSAs, the ERC said that three of them have not been scheduled for a hearing.
“Actually of the 7 PSAs, three have not even been scheduled for a hearing yet because of the lack Environmental Compliance Certificate,” she said.
According to the ERC, three PSAs are currently on hearing.
Meanwhile, the PSA with the Panay Energy Development Corporation was already given a provisional authority.
The provisional authority means that the distribution utility the power to draw power from the existing plant.
“If I’m not mistaken this one was to augment the supply status that the demand of Meralco needed at the particular period,” Asirit added.
The provisional authority, however, is still subject to final determination.
The ERC was accused of being involved with alleged ‘midnight’ deals to accommodate Meralco PSAs involving different power plants.
These included Meralco PSAs with Panay Energy Development Corp. (70 MW), Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (225 MW), St. Raphael Power Generation Corp. (400 MW), Central Luzon Premiere Power Corp. (528 MW), Mariveles Power Generation Corp. (528 MW), Global Luzon Energy Development Corp. (600 MW), and the Atimonan One Energy Inc. (1,200 MW).
The next hearing on the alleged midnight deals will include the representatives of the seven generation companies involved in the PSAs with Meralco and is scheduled on October 11.