The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is calling on government agencies and state-run firms to take a more proactive role in advancing the use of renewable energy (RE) in the country, highlighting the need for stronger leadership to accelerate the energy transition.
ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta, in a briefing Monday, emphasized that public institutions must lead by example through participation in programs such as the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP), net metering, rooftop solar, and Distributed Energy Resources (DER).
“We really still need to hopefully push for that advocacy among government agencies so that we can show that government leads the way,” Dimalanta said, noting also the flexibility the RE mechanisms offer for public entities depending on their energy needs.
Dimalanta likewise said the ERC is working on finalizing the roadmap for lowering the threshold of the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) program. Currently, only large power consumers with peak demand of at least 500 kilowatts are eligible to choose their own power suppliers. The roadmap, targeted for public consultation before Dimalanta’s departure next month, aims to broaden access to smaller consumers, potentially down to household levels.
However, Dimalanta noted that significant infrastructure upgrades—such as automated registration systems, smart metering by distribution utilities, and expanded readiness of the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP)—will be required for full implementation.
The ERC’s push underscores the broader policy implications of empowering energy consumers and decentralizing power generation, a step seen as crucial to achieving the country’s renewable energy targets.
