ILOILO City – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), thereby giving it authority to operate.
On the other hand, ERC revoked the provisional CPCN it granted to Panay Electric Co. (PECO) last year.
MORE Power welcomed the ERC decision. With no CPCN, PECO has no business operating any longer, said Atty. Hector Teodosio, MORE Power legal counsel.
The order dated March 5 was issued by ERC chairperson and chief executive officer Agnes Devanadera following a two-day (March 3-4) ocular inspection its technical personnel conducted in Iloilo City to verify the actual status of the power distribution network here.
The inspection team verified “MORE Power’s full readiness and capability in the aspects of development, operation and maintenance of the distribution system”, read part of the ERC order.
The Commission stressed it was “mindful of its mandate to protect consumer interest, ensure uninterrupted electric service to consumers in Iloilo City, and prevent chaos and confusion among customers as to who is authorized to operate the distribution system…”
ERC also authorized MORE Power to implement the last approved distribution charges of PECO, and required the new power distributor to “source and procure its power requirements…”
“While MORE Power is unable to secure a Certificate of Exemption from the Department of Energy (DOE) necessary to enter into emergency power supply agreements, it shall source its power requirements from the current power generation suppliers of PECO,” ERC added.
In revoking PECO’s CPCN, ERC stressed that its order granting the former’s provisional CPCN was subject to the condition that such covered only the “interim period” in order to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity in Iloilo City./PN
