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35th Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) Implementation Status Report

Published on Thursday, 17 September 2020

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The 35th Status Report on Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 implementation covers the period May to October 2019 which includes significant accomplishments, developments and continuing challenges undertaken by the attached agencies as mandated under the EPIRA.

The Power Sector Assests and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) will commence the second round of bidding tentatively in November 2019 held for the privatization of the Malaya Thermal Power Plant and continue to privatization activities other remaining plants and National Power Corporation-Independent Power Producer (NPC-IPP) contracts, and the disposal of other disposable assets to include real estate and unserviceable assets, and waste and junk materials. With regard to the reduction in PSALM’s foreign debts, as of September 2019, the remaining balance is down to PhP425 billion from the peak of PhP1.23 Trillion as of year 2003 or a decrease of PhP816 billion from the enactment of the EPIRA in 2001.

The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) continuously accepts registration requirements from Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) Mindanao participants. Further, all Mindanao Stakeholders, PEMC, IEMOP (as Market Operator), NGCP (as System Operator and Metering Service Provider), Generation Companies, Private Distribution Utilities, Electric Cooperatives, and Directly Connected Customers are being assessed for their respective readiness to implement WESM in Mindanao.

With regard to the implementation of the Retail Competition and Open Access, the DOE promulgated further adopted policies thru Department Circular No. DC2019-07-0011, entitled “Amending Various Issuances on the implementation of RCOA” which provides for the voluntary registration of the CCs in the WESM as Trading Participants and designating the IMO as the Central Registration Body.

In terms of the electricity pricing as of June 2019, the country’s average electricity rates is around PhP8.71/kWh, PhP0.14 centavos higher compared with the March 2019 national average systems rate. For Luzon grid, as of June 2019, the rate was around PhP9.28/kWh compared in March 2019 at PhP8.66/kWh. For Visayas, it increased by 6 centavos/kwh while in Mindanao grid, there was a decrease by 43 centavos/kWh.

The country’s total peak demand in the first half of 2019 was recorded at 15,713 MW, which is 931 MW or 6.3% higher than the 14,782 MW in 2018. The Luzon grid contributed 11,476 MW or 73.0% of the total demand with an increase of 600 MW or 5.5% from the 2018 peak demand of 10,876 MW, while Visayas and Mindanao contributed a share of 14.2% (2,224 MW) and 12.8% (2,013 MW), respectively.

The household electrification level as of September 2019 is around 98.33%. Said level corresponds to 22.60 million energized HHs out of 22.98 million identified and targeted HH population based from the 2015 Census of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Click to view/download the 35th EPIRA Implementation Status Report

36th Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) Implementation Status Report

Published on Tuesday, 15 September 2020

(For the Report Period April 2020)

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The 36th Status Report on Republic Act No. 9136 titled “Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001” covers the implementation period November 2019 to April 2020. This highlights significant accomplishments, strategies and policies undertaken by the Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the DOE Attached Agencies as well as other private sector instrumentalities so mandated by the EPIRA.

During the report period, several events occurred that deeply affected the power industry including the devastation left by Typhoon Ursula which ravaged the Northeastern Mindanao, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Western Visayas, the eruption of Taal Volcano in January 2020 which temporarily displaced about 846,000 resident of Laguna, Cavite and Batangas and the recent pandemic Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) which put the economic activities of the country at almost stand still. Also in this report, it highlighted the response that the power sector has implemented in order to ensure the uninterrupted supply of electricity and support the government’s effort to prevent the spread and mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

Amid the mobility limitation brought by implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and work from home (WFH) arrangements, the sector strived to operate normally while adhering to the norms implemented with the issuance of various regulations in line with Republic Act No. 11469 titled Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, also known as the Bayanihan Act, which was enacted in 25 March 2020 granting the President additional authority to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

The Department of Energy has implemented emergency measures against the COVID-19 to ensure a continuous supply of energy within the country. These include the issuance of identification cards (IDs) to facilitate movement of workers in the delivery of energy services and fuels, close coordination with other concerned government agencies and corporations including local government officials and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the unimpeded movement of energy products and services needed for the daily operations and establishment of a 24/7 Bayanihan Energy Service hotline to assist industry players.

Click to view/download the 36th EPIRA Implementation Status Report