ERC readies B2B IT system for retail market
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is set to establish the uniform Business to Business Information Technology (B2B IT) infrastructure for competitive retail market participants. The B2B IT system will serve as the ‘central nerve’ for facilitating customer switching arrangements, information transfers and settlement process for the competitive retail market participants.
This system is expected to benefit both Retail Electricity Suppliers (RES) and customers as it ensures the proper settlement of electricity sales, like determining who used much, who delivered how much and the cost of imbalances between the contracted and the actual energy delivered. The ease in the conduct of transactions among RES, distribution utilities (DUs) and consumers will help promote robust competition.
“We see to it that the interests of market players and the consumers are equitably advanced to ensure the success of a vibrant retail electricity trading,” ERC Chairman Rodolfo B. Albano, Jr. stressed.
The B2B draft procedures was presented before industry participants and guests from Australia and America in a roundtable discussion held last March 15, 2006 at the Astoria Plaza wherein the need for a central registration body for the retail transactions was recognized.
“We want to emphasize that the ERC adheres to the principle of transparency and full accountability geared towards creating a level playing field among all industry participants, subject to the rule on the confidentiality of information,” the Chief Regulator concluded.