ERC sets hearing on Veco expansion plan next week

CEBU, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has set on Jan. 15 the pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on Visayan Electric Company's (Veco) application for approval of its capital expenditures (Capex) projects for  2014 to 2015.

VECO is seeking the energy body's approval for the construction, ownership and operation of Capex projects that includes seven substations, four sub-transmission lines and one transmission line costing P402.1 million.

The seven substation projects are the additional 1X100 MVA AYA, Mabuhay Filcement Switching Station, Cemex Switching Station, H. Cortes 69 kV/ 23 kV substation project, H. Cortes substation (lot), South Road Properties TR1 69 kV/ 23 kV substation, and SRP substation (lot).

The sub-transmission line projects, on the other hand, are the SRP 69 kV line, . Cemex-Mabuhay Filcement 69 kV interconnection, Mabuhay Filcement-Taiheiyo 69 kV interconnection, and the Sibonga line rerouting.

Meanwhile, the transmission line project is the National Grid Corporation of  the Philippines Colon-AYA 138 kV line interconnection.

Commisioner Zenaida Cruz-Ducut has directed Veco to prepare an expository presentation where it "put(s) in plain words and explain, for the benefit of  the consumers and other concerned parties, what the application is all about and the reasons and justifications being cited."

The hearing is at 9:30 a.m. at the ERC Visayas Field Office, Regis, 11th  floor, AppleOne-Equicom Tower, Mindanao Avenue corner Biliran Road, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City.

Veco said the Capex is "indispensable (in)...ensuring...continuous, reliable and efficient power supply." Veco would fund the projects through long-term loans.

Ducut also ordered Veco and all interested parties to submit at least five days before the date of  initial hearing and pre-trial conference, or until this Friday, their respective pre-trial briefs.

The briefs should contain, among others, a summary of admitted facts and proposed stipulation of facts and the issues to be tried and resolved, the documents or exhibits to be presented, as well as the number and names of the witnesses. — (FREEMAN)