ERC: Relax electric bill collection

For 2 months in Odette-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and distribution utilities (DUs) in areas affected by Typhoon Odette to relax bill collection in the next two months.

ERC chairperson and chief executive officer Agnes Devanadera said DUs should give people time to recover from the effects of the typhoon.

“The directive will be applied also to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., generation companies and wholesale electricity spot market,” she said.

Devanadera said these entities should also prioritize and speed up power restoration.

In a recent meeting, the ERC said the NGCP should submit reports on the status and extent of restoration of transmission lines.

The power regulator said the NGCP and affected DUs may implement capital expenditure projects to restore power during calamities without seeking approval from the ERC. This is provided in Article 10.2 of the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates and Article 3.3 of the amended rules for the approval of regulated entities’ capital expenditure projects.

“We appreciate the efforts of the NGCP for its timely action in assessing the damage and in doing immediate rehabilitation works necessary to fasttrack power restoration in the affected areas,” Devandera said. ”We want to assure the public that there are mechanisms in place that allow concerned electric power stakeholders to immediately respond and address the electricity needs of those affected by force majeure events.”

The Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) said damage to electric cooperatives due to the typhoon reached P373.12 million as of Tuesday.

The Bohol 1 Electric Cooperative incurred the biggest loss at P344.08 million followed by Northern Negros Electric Cooperative at P5.26 million.

Department of Energy Undersecretary and TFER chairman Felix William Fuentebella said the figures are expected to increase as more data come in.

‘Enough fuel in VisMin’

Meanwhile, Petron Corp. said it has sufficient fuel inventory in typhoon-hit areas as the oil company appealed for understanding as it conducts rehabilitation works to reopen damaged gas stations.

“We have enough product inventory to serve the needs of our kababayans in the Visayas and Mindanao. Our biggest challenge, however, is quickly and safely reopening damaged service stations. Despite limitations, all our teams are working hard to address this,” Petron president and CEO Ramon Ang said.

He said Petron’s import facilities and terminals in the Visayas and Mindanao were operational as of Dec. 18 even as several gas stations remained closed for damage assessment and repair.

“We ask for our countrymen’s understanding. We know there are long lines at service stations. We’re working with utmost urgency to ease the situation,” Ang said.