City starts complying with ERC rules

THE City Government of Baguio has started the process of complying with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) regulations in order to sell power generated by the Asin mini-hydroelectric power plants, said Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

The move came after ERC officer-in-charge for Market Operations Isabelo Tomas wrote the Baguio City Government, asking it to comply with requisites of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) as a power generator.

The ERC said if the city is a power producer prior to the enactment of the law, it still needs to comply with existing regulations affirming the stand of Benguet Electric Cooperative for them to have an Energy Power Purchase Agreement with the local government.

Epira rules, regardless of when they started operating, should secure a certificate of compliance from the commission that is renewable every five years.

Domogan said they are now also in the process of talking potential power purchasers of the Asin plant.

After Beneco’s pullout from buying power from the Asin plants last year, the City Government has been losing around P2.5 million supposed revenue monthly from its operations.

The stoppage has resulted in the temporary loss of jobs by some 20 contractual employees. City officials, meanwhile, assured they will reinstate the contractual employees once plant operation resumes.

The mayor said they are hastening the process of negotiating with private partners who will buy power from the Asin plants, while they are also processing their ERC requirements.

He also instructed the City Administrator’s Office to maintain a skeletal force to secure the plants while the city finds solutions for the plants continued use. (JM Agreda)