ERC renews compliance certificate of CEBECO I

CEBU, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission has renewed the Certificate of Compliance of Cebu Electric Cooperative Incorporated I for the operation of its three mini-hydroelectric power plants (MHEPP) for another five years. 

These power plants are the 0.50 MW Mantayupan MHEPP in Mantayupan, Barili; the 0.50 MW Basak MHEPP in Basak, Badian; and the 0.72 MW Matulinao MHEPP in Matulinao, Badian.

The aggregate capacity of the three renewable energy power plants is 1.72 MW.

The mini-hydroelectric power plants are embedded in the distribution system of CEBECO I, thus they do not need to pass through the transmission system.

In a statement, the ERC said the COC attests the compliance of the CEBECO I with the environmental, technical and financial standards.

The ERC had issued CEBECO I a COC in 2002. The certificate was revised in 2010.

The commission also certifies the compliance of the CEBECO I with the market share and cross-ownership limitations to ensure that electricity consumers are guarded from abuse of market power.

Before the COC was issued, the ERC also ascertained that CEBECO I complies with the Philippine Grid and Distribution Code, the WESM Rules, environmental and other laws.

The commission also checked CEBECO I’s conformity to all the requirements to ensure that the generating plants are reliable and can produce sustainable power.

A non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, CEBECO I is the first rural electric cooperative in Cebu.

It was registered with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in 1972 and was granted a franchise to operate for a period of 50 years by the National Electrification Commission in 1980. — (FREEMAN)