THE Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) is not yet operational and is still undergoing trial operation stages but is targeted to be fully operational by the second quarter of 2018.
During the Energy Investment Forum and stakeholders Conference at the Grand Regal Hotel conducted on Tuesday, October 3, Energy assistant secretary Redentor Delola clarified that the WESM had not been put on hold and is still going through with the necessary trial operations.
He also clarified that contrary to reports, they have a high reception from the concerned cooperatives in Mindanao and also stated that the Department of Energy (DOE) do not have problems in terms of implementation of the market.
"What's lagging behind the schedule is the implementation of the embedded generators that are directly connected to the customers. There are test cases that need to run these. We really need to complete the tests and trial operations for all the participants of the market," said Delola.
He added the price determination methodology, which will be used for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao markets, is currently undergoing different hearings prior to approval by the Energy Regulations Commission (ERC). DOE targets that the approval be around February 2018.
Delola also said they plan to improve the market transition of Luzon and Visayas grid to a 5-minute interval together with the implementation of the Mindanao grid.