The Senate will consider the delay of the ERC on the petitions of the PSALM

THE SENATE will review the operations of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in its upcoming congressional budget hearings due to delays in the approval of petitions filed since 2015 by the Energy Sector The PSALM said at Monday's hearing by the Senate Energy Committee that delays in the approval of its petitions by the ERC led to an additional 34.78 billion pesetas assumed by consumers, which equates to a consumption rate. Republic Act 9136 or the Electricity Industry Reform Act 2001 (EPIRA) allows the PSALM to collect royalties from consumers of electricity. He requests authorization from the REB for the monthly amount to be billed.

Asked to explain, Alvin Jones Ortega, ERC's director of energy regulation, said that the agency was following the process of processing applications filed in his office. ERC lawyer Krisha Buela also pointed out that the regulator was already reviewing its procedures to speed up pending applications.

"(The ERC) should improve its process, and this upcoming budget season will of course see what is going on in their operations, and every delay has costs." Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who heads the committee, said: told reporters after the Senate hearing.

On another issue, the senator also sees the bill allocate $ 20 billion Malampaya funds to cover the universal burden is the fastest measure and the easiest way to reduce the cost of electricity tariffs in the country.

"In the last two years, the committee has been looking for ways to reduce our electricity bills. effectively reduce the amount that our consumers pay on their electricity bill, "said Gatchalian.

"After a thorough study of the various bills proposed in the Senate, the President (see) He added:

Senate Bill 924 or the Bill on Billing Bills. cheaper electricity, filed by Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto in 2016, seeks to allocate the national government's net share of the Malampaya natural gas project for the payment of the contracted stranded costs (SCC) and failed debts (SD ) of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) 19659003] The bill also directs that the Malampaya funds be paid into a "special trust fund" administered by PSALM.

Based on the calculations of the PSALM, the The application of the P204 billion Malambaya fund would avoid an increase of P0.874 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) retail food tariffs, which would result in annual savings of P2 033.76 for an average consuming household. 200 kWh per month. [19659003] Mr Gatchalian said that the committee is now studying the proposed measure on the exact amount of remaining funds Malampaya should apply for this purpose.

The Malampaya Project is a joint venture of the national government and Shell Philippines Exploration BV on behalf of joint venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and PNOC Exploration Corp. The discovery of gas is expected to end around 2022 to 2024. – Camille A. Aguinaldo