THE Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) said preparations are on track for the trial run of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao on June 26.
"We are all set [for WESM Mindanao]," said Melinda L. Ocampo, PEMC President, in an interview with SunStar Davao on Friday, June 16, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
Ocampo said they are nearing the completion of the training for the personnel who will take part in the implementation of WESM Mindanao.
She said the trial run could last up to three months similar to how they conducted the trial run in the Visayas. However, Ocampo said the lengthen of the trial run will really depend on the participants.
"After the trial run we will be doing an assessment, which we will submit to DOE, who will provide the go signal for the operations of WESM Mindanao based on the assessment report we submitted," Ocampo said.
WITH the upcoming implementation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao, PEMC is eyeing to soon put up a center here to operate the spot market.
Ocampo said they are looking at the possibility of establishing the center either in Davao City or in Cagayan de Oro City.
She said for the meantime they will be utilizing some of the facilities of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Cagayan de Oro City. As for Davao City, she said the Department of Energy (DOE) has recommended an office space for them.
As to when the facility will be established, Ocampo said they have to wait for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to approve the budget for the facility.
Earlier, DOE undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella told SunStar Davao that despite the Marawi crisis and the declaration of martial law, the implementation of WESM Mindanao will push through.
""The Marawi situation will not affect the implementation of the electricity market in Mindanao. Flexibility and resiliency of the power facilities in the interconnected Mindanao Power System are among the features of having a spot market," he said.
Fuentebella added that the launch and eventual market operation of the Mindanao wholesale electricity spot market is very important to ensure electricity supply is provided 24/7 in a transparent manner.