Energy Development Corporation (EDC) announced that De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) will continue sourcing geothermal power from the Lopez-led firm for another two years.
This is DLSL’s second renewal of its deal with EDC, which has been providing power to the school since 2017 from the Bacon-Manito geothermal plant in Albay. Since then, it has avoided emitting the equivalent of 3,870 tons of carbon dioxide.
The power supply contract was renewed in a recent virtual signing ceremony attended by Dr. Erickson Martinez, DLSL Chancellor, and Marvin Kennth Ballon, EDC Head for Business Development-Market Planning & Contracts.
“Our goal of creating a sustainable future for generations to come includes providing our students with a learning environment that preserves our planet and getting power from renewables through First Gen and EDC is a crucial part of it,” DLSL President and Chancellor Bro. Dante Jose Amisola, FSC said in a statement.
Bailon, meanwhile, said the renewed partnership “is a manifestation that DLSL is still committed to its sustainable development goals” even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
EDC’s deal with DLSL is covered by the government’s Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA). Under RCOA, contestable customers can directly contract with a retail electricity supplier (RES) for the volume, rate, and package of services that it prefers. RCOA intends to lower electricity prices by introducing competition among various players.
Based on the RCOA timeline, contestable customers consuming at least 500 kilowatts (kW) monthly may already choose their own electricity supplier. The threshold would then be lowered to 100kW by January 2022 and to 10kW by January 2023.
Since DLSL consumes more than 100kW monthly, it may also avail of electricity from RESs via the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) once implemented. First Gen Corporation, EDC’s parent firm, has three RES participants in the GEOP.