ERC sets draft Uniform Business Practices for PubCon

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has set the public consultation on the draft “Uniform Business Practices (UBP)” on February 13, 2007 at nine o’clock (9:00 A.M.) to twelve o’clock (12:00 P.M.) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Ave., Pasig City.

“The UBP completes the necessary rules that will govern the initial implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access. Said rules will standardize the procedures governing the transfer of customers from one competitive electricity supplier to another”, ERC Chairman Rodolfo B. Albano Jr. said.

The UBP aims to ensure the efficient and timely exchange of information between and among competitive retail market participants. This set of Rules applies to the following electric stakeholders: RES (Retail Electricity Suppliers), Local RES, DUs (Distribution Utilities), SOLR (Supplier of Last Resort), PEMC (Philippine Electricity Market Corporation) as the central registration body, Contestable Market, and persons or entities authorized to supply electricity within economic zones. Said rules, among others, spell out specific procedures in the provision of customer information, customer switching, and billing and payment under the open access and retail competition regime.

“ERC encourages the public and all electric industry stakeholders to actively participate in the scheduled PubCon to help ensure a truly competitive electricity retail market in the Philippines,” Chairman Albano urged.

February 12, 2007