The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) seeks to secure an ISO accreditation for its meter testing laboratory in order to gain international acceptance and recognition of its testing and calibration results.       

“The move aims to strengthen the ERC’s testing and calibration system through the accreditation of its meter testing laboratory to ISO/IEC 17025 which pertains to the General Requirement for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.  In doing so, our capacities and standards shall be aligned to meet international standards” ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera explained.  

Getting an ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation provides benefits to both the ERC and the electric power industry stakeholders, particularly:  (1) National and international recognition; (2) Recognizes the technical competence of laboratory staff; (3) Assures the client that results of testing are reliable and valid; (4) Provides comparability of measurements; (5) Decision makers can rely on test results; (6) Improves staff motivation; (7) Reduce barriers in trade; and (8) Saves money by getting it right first time.    

The ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation project pursues to achieve international obligation as member signatory to international agreement and a more efficient and effective way of undertaking testing and calibration.  The accreditation will also promote cooperation between laboratories and other certifying bodies around the world by generating wider acceptance of results between countries.  Test reports and certificates will be accepted from one country to another without the need for further retesting, which in turn, improves international trade by way of liberalization of entry of goods.

The ERC’s ISO accreditation is also aligned and complies with Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act which seeks to make the process of putting up and running a business in the Philippines easier and more efficient.  Once the accreditation is completed, the ERC’s meter testing and calibration mandate shall observe the standardized deadline for government transactions based on the Ease of Doing Business Act.

The Meter Division of the Consumer Affairs Service (CAS) of the ERC shall spearhead and oversee the completion and proper implementation of the ISO/IEC Project.

“The ISO/IEC accreditation will be an added feather in ERC’s cap as our meter test results gets international acceptance and recognition.  We owe it to the citizenry to secure and maintain their trust and confidence by assuring them of an accurate and reliable meter test and calibration results” ERC Chair Devanadera concluded.