Interim open access rules readied

Tag : AES implementation


Interim open access rules readied

By Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:11:00 08/13/2008


Following the issuance of provisional authority to interestedparticipants, the Energy Regulatory Commission has drafted therules that will govern the implementation of interim open access.
Under the draft rules, interim open access would not start earlierthan the transfer of the Masinloc and Calaca coal-fired powerplants, both rated at 600 megawatt, to their new owners.
The Masinloc plant was turned over to AES Corp. in late April. Thetransfer of the Calaca plant to the new owner, Emerald EnergyCorp., would take effect upon remittance of a 40 percentdown-payment.
Under the proposed rules, consumers with a monthly average peakdemand of at least one megawatt 12 months before implementation ofthe program will be qualified to join.
Since the program is voluntary in nature, only end-users within thefranchise areas of eligible distribution utilities will be able toparticipate.
To make the billing process easier for participants, a singlebilling policy will be adopted, with licensed retail electricitysuppliers (RES) to contract with other service providerssuch asthe eligible distribution utilities for transmission anddistribution wheeling and ancillary serviceson behalf of theircustomers.
The only agreement that an interim open access customer will haveto enter into with its eligible distribution utility is theconnection agreement.
Under the program, only eligible distribution utilities will beallowed to provide metering services to interim open accesscustomers. These services include meter procurement, installation,maintenance, repair, calibration with the supervision of the ERC,meter reading, and data dissemination to the respective RES.
Contracts and transactions that will be entered into during theinterim open access regime will be automatically terminated uponthe start of implementation of retail competition and open accessas declared by the ERC. Industry players will then have to enterinto new contracts under the open access regime.
Interested parties have until Aug. 28 to submit their comments onthe draft rules. A public consultation will be held on Sept. 4.