Think tank Infra Watch PH is calling on lawmakers to strengthen the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) technical workforce to take on the administrative workload in processing power price petitions while boosting its regulatory authority to guarantee fair pricing.
In a Business World report, Infra Watch PH public investment analyst and convenor Terry L. Ridon said that the ERC’s regulatory mandate to serve the public interest should take precedence over fast-tracking processes.
To this, he suggested expanding the commission’s technical staff to expedite the time-sensitive approval of petitions.
Energy Undersecretary Sharon S. Garin earlier urged legislators to amend the ERC charter to allow power price hikes without regulatory approval, provided they fall within a set benchmark.
She argued that this would reduce the approval process burden that power distributors have long criticized.
Additionally, the Department of Energy (DOE) is working on proposals for penalties related to economic sabotage within the power generation sector.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for a review of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to address issues, particularly high electricity prices.
The DOE also expects that 4,000 megawatts of power generation could be added to the grid by the end of 2024, although delays in the application process are holding back new power plants ready to begin operations.
Analysts have also pushed for modifications to the electricity procurement process and increased regulatory authority for the ERC and DOE. They argued that resolving cross-ownership and privatization problems through EPIRA may increase competition and stabilize the energy industry.
