ERC mandates Time-of-Use meters

CEBU, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission has directed distribution utilities (DUs) in Luzon and Visayas to complete the installation of Time-of-Use (TOU) meters for qualified contestable electricity customers under the first phase of implementation of open access and retail competition (OARC).

In a resolution dated February 15, 2012, ERC gave the distribution utilities 30 days from the issuance of the said resolution to provide contestable customers, upon request, with load profile data (LPD) covering a 12-month period prior to the request, at no cost to the customers.

Contestable consumers are those who consume at least 1 megawatt of electricity per month for 12 straight months, said Visayan Electric Company (VECO) spokesperson Ethel Natera. They also have the option where to purchase their power supply.

ERC chairperson and CEO Zenaida Cruz-Ducut said in a statement that some contestable customers protested against the intent of some distribution utilities to charge a fee for the LPD. 

The LPD provides the history of power consumption by a contestable customer that will help in making intelligent decisions in choosing a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and negotiating for the most advantageous electricity supply deal. 

The ERC, as the guardian of the welfare and interests of electricity consumers, immediately acted on the concern of the consumers and ruled that the LPD must be provided by a DU to its customers free of charge.

The data, among others, will include the hourly historical consumption and demand.

The ERC explained that the LPD should be provided for free since this data will eventually be made available to customers at no cost once the Central Registration Body (CRB) is in place. 

The CRB will upload such data in the business-to-business system (B2B) of the market.

It noted that the source of meter reading data of each contestable customer given to the CRB will be the concerned DUs themselves. 

The ERC sees that the DU can provide potential contestable customers with free detailed metering information. 

Ducut added that ERC assures electricity consumers of its vigilance in monitoring developments in the emerging competitive retail electricity market of the country. 

ERC  also ensure that DUs will maintain a policy of non-discriminatory service to its customers and  will continue without fail to look after the well-being of electricity consumers.  (FREEMAN)