ERC issues new rules for retail power market

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has adopted new rules for the competitive retail power market in preparation for open access.

The commission said it has issued the so-called Code of Conduct for the Competitive Retail Market Participant (CRMP) which include the retail electricity suppliers (RES), the local RES, the distribution utilities (DUs), entities duly authorized to operate in the economic zones, and the contestable market.

"The ERC adopted the Code of Conduct to gain the confidence of electricity consumers in the retail electricity market and to ensure non-discriminatory access to regulated electricity services," ERC chairman Rodolfo B. Albano Jr. said.

The code sets the standards of behavior in marketing electricity service at the retail level.

Albano said the new code will also detail the marketing responsibilities and contractual obligations of the participants, as well as the complaint handling procedures for customers.

Under the code, the participants and their representatives are enjoined to observe confidential handling of information provided by the customer in connection with his application for electricity service.

The code will also require the issuance of a disclosure statement to the customer to ensure honesty, fairness and transparency by the competitive retail market participants in dealing with the customer.

In marketing its services, the RES, among others, must observe truthful advertising; avoid misleading the customers; provide the contact information of the ERC in marketing collaterals and advertisements to allow a customer to make clarifications on the information contained therein; and have marketing representatives with proper identification, full product knowledge and who are well-informed on the code and factual in his sales presentation.

"The ERC hopes that the electricity providers participating in the competitive retail electricity market will faithfully comply with the code to gain the trust and confidence of the end-consumers," Albano said.