SOLAR power developers have asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to clarify the circumstances surrounding the issuance of feed-in-tariff (FiT) certificates despite reports of “inconsistencies” that unfairly placed some companies at a disadvantage. In a statement, Ma. Theresa C. Capellan, president of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA), said solar companies were “really puzzled” as…
Month: February 2017
Supreme Court issues TRO against contestable-customer power scheme
THE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued a halt order on several issuances of the Department of Energy (DoE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on the government’s retail competition and open access (RCOA) policies. Acting on a petition filed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), San Beda College Alabang, Inc., Ateneo…
PEMC flags electric cooperatives’ financial capacity for spot market
The financial capacity of electric cooperatives remains the biggest concern in the planned opening of the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) in Mindanao, according to the head of the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC). Read more here.
UK urges long-term plan for LNG
THE British Embassy has prepared a study on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has laid out policy options that the Philippine government can assess and possibly adopt ahead of plans by a UK company to invest in the local LNG business. “Unless the government sets the LNG policy and the strategy, it’s very difficult for…
Key senator backs review of NGCP powers
THE chairman of the Senate committee on energy has backed a call for a review of the congressional franchise extended to privately owned National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to ensure that it is in line with the Constitution. “My own personal opinion (is) you cannot delegate the power of eminent domain. That’s an…
Energy department, PEZA sign deal to make power cheaper for locators
THE Department of Energy (DoE) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) have agreed to hasten the development of regional economic zones by coming up with measures that will ease doing business in the country, including cheaper power rates. In a statement over the weekend, DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said a memorandum of understanding…
AboitizPower aims for ‘balanced mix strategy’
ABOITIZ POWER Corp. is aiming for what it called a “balanced mix strategy” this year with the completion of several power generation projects that use sources including coal and hydro-electric, it said on Tuesday. “That has always been part of strategy — to tap renewable energy as long as it is available and cost-effective for…
Energy dept vows to uphold consumers’ power of choice
The Department of Energy DOE has committed to uphold consumers’ power of choice following a Supreme Court order temporarily halting the implementation of the retail competition and open access. The agency is duty-bound to implement the law and uphold the freedom of choice to promote market competition, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said. The provisions in…
DMCI Power to invest P1.2 billion in power projects this year
DMCI Power Corp. (DPC) is pouring in P1.2 billion this year to finance a number of power projects. DPC President Nestor D. Dadivas said the amount is meant to augment the power firm’s existing generation capacity and to implement its scheduled maintenance programs in the provinces of Masbate, Oriental Mindoro and Palawan. The company will partly…
Solar firm to debut battery storage
Solar Philippines will showcase the country’s first solar farm equipped with batteries when it completes the first 50 megawatts (MW) of its largest solar project in Tarlac by mid-2017, its top official said yesterday. The company expects batteries to become a game changer in the solar market this year. “Tarlac Phase 1 of 50 MW…
DOE pushes info drive for WESM Mindanao
The Department of Energy (DOE) is strengthening its information campaign in pushing for the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao. The DOE has been conducting preparatory activities for the launch of WESM Mindanao, in coordination with the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). The agency has…
AboitizPower adding 800 MW to balance generation portfolio
Aboitiz Power Corp. is completing over 800 megawatts (MW) of power projects this year – from renewable energy developments to coal-fired power plants – as it pursues to balance its energy portfolio by 2020. The company is set to complete five projects with a total capacity of 828.3 MW this year which underlines the company’s…
Winnergy Holdings Corp. 