The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has launched its Continuing Regulatory Education for Stakeholders (CREST) program to enhance the technical knowledge and regulatory compliance of distribution utilities (DUs) across the country.

The two-day training, launched on October 7, 2025, at Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas, carries the theme “Empowerment through Regulation and Compliance.” It aims to promote accuracy, reliability, and consumer protection by educating technical personnel with updated regulatory and engineering standards.

ERC Commissioner Paris G. Real, who led the opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of building trust and shared accountability between the ERC and the utilities it regulates.

“Consumers are the backbone of the power sector—the lifeblood of every DU,” Real said. He urged participants to uphold regulatory discipline and maintain a strong commitment to consumer welfare while sustaining investor confidence.

The program included lectures and workshops led by ERC technical experts from various departments — including the Consumer Affairs Service, Financial and Administrative Service, and Market Operations Service — alongside resource speakers from the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE).

Topics covered during the sessions include the Philippine Electrical Code and its amendments, metering standards, billing and revenue systems, net-metering and renewable energy rules, meter shop accreditation, as well as in-service testing procedures.

Day 1 concluded with a workshop on preparing In-Service Testing Plans, encouraging collaboration among participants from different DUs and accredited meter shops.

The ERC said CREST spotlights its commitment to capacity-building and transparency, ensuring that the power distribution sector remains technically sound, consumer-oriented, and compliant with national energy regulations.

Do you think programs like CREST can help improve power reliability and consumer protection in the country’s electricity sector?

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Photo Credit: ERC Website