ODPS project manager and head of Napocor’s power network business department Alberto C. Guanzon attributed the increase to the robust daily bidding for Napocor’s unutilized capacity.
Under the ODPS scheme, the state-run power firm sells its unutilized capacity to its customers through an electronic, on-line bidding system. These customers should have a self-generation capacity of at least one megawatt to be able to join the daily bidding.
Guanzon also traced the improvement in the ODPS performance to the aggressive marketing blitz that the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) continues to implement in a bid to get its so-caleld "embedded" customers to join the program.
Embedded customers are bulk power users (mainly industries) that generate their own electricity but are operating within the Meralco franchise area. Meralco services the entire Metro Manila area and adjacent provinces.
Napocor has so far earned P1.3 billion from ODPS since the scheme was implemented in June 1998.
As of May 2001, a total of 55 firms have been authorized to join the daily trading for the ODPS. Of this figure, 27 are embedded customers of Meralco and were jointly accredited by Napocor and the Lopez-owned utility. –Donnabelle Gatdula