Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 13) — Shifting to renewable energy will help the country bring down high electricity costs, energy officials said Tuesday.
“We are pushing for this because some of the distribution facilities were asking how they can address high electricity rates. One of the solutions is to look into the 10-5-5 rule of tapping renewables,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella said.
The 10-5-5 rule means each distribution utility may source 10 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, like solar and wind, in Luzon; 5 MW for Visayas; and 5 MW for Mindanao.
Last week, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced an increase in its rates for the second time in December. The power distributor said the hikes would go on until January next year.
READ: Meralco customers to pay more in December
Monalisa Dimalanta, chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), echoed Fuentebella’s statement, putting the spotlight on problems concerning electric cooperatives.
“It is not only to address the [rates], but also for electric cooperatives, in particular, to address their low voltage issues,” Dimalanta said.
The ERC earlier said it was looking into the “accuracy” of “overpriced” generation charges passed on by distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to consumers.
READ: ERC probes complaints on overpriced generation rates
Allan Laniba, president of the National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives, welcomed the probe — emphasizing the need to “know if the generation charges imposed now is the same formula generation companies filed before the ERC.”
