CSOs, consumers urge ERC to reject Meralco’s  contracts

Members of civil society and representatives of consumers and coal-affected communities marched to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Office in Pasig to file petitions of intervention regarding Meralco’s applications for Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) with seven coal-fired power plants across the country.

The Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), along with Sanlakas, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Koalisyong Pabahay ng Pilipinas (KPP) and other member organizations of the Power for People (P4P) organization (P4P) filed respective petitions questioning various irregularities concerning the process of application, as well as negative consequences which would arise if Meralco’s application is granted.

“The approval of Meralco’s PSAs would lead to 3,551 MW of coal entering the pipeline, which would pose great harm to the people’s health and livelihood, as well as the environment and the climate,” said CEED Convenor Gerry Arances. “But on top of this, Filipinos will end up paying more for electricity if Meralco would have their way,” he continued.

Arances explained that the PSAs will lock the country into relying on coal for the next 20 years, which means that regardless of the trend of decreasing costs for renewable energy technology like solar and wind, the Philippines will be stuck with operating and paying for costlier and dirtier energy from coal.

“Despite the passage of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, renewable energy’s share in the power mix has not increased from 34% in that year. In fact, it has even decreased to 29% as of 2016.” Arances added. “About 70% of power projects to go online in 2019 will be from coal. This means that by 2021, coal will supply at least 50% of our energy needs,” Arances pointed out.

Meralco’s contracts’

On April 29, 2016, Meralco filed separate Applications for Approval of separate Power Supply Agreements (PSA) with the following Generation Companies:

Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc. (RPE), 225MW

Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E), 1,200MW

St. Raphael Power Generation Corp. (SRPGC), 400MW

Central Luzon Premiere Power Corp. (CLPPC), 528MW

Mariveles Power Generation Corp., (MPGC), 528MW

Panay Energy Devt. Corp. (PEDC), 70MW

Global Luzon Energy Devt. Corp. (GLEDC), 600MW

Butch Junia of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), who personally filed an earlier petition of intervention regarding the PSAs last June 13, pointed out that Meralco’s contracts should be subjected to the competitive selection process (CSP) in order to ascertain if “it is the best and least cost supply for consumers.”

“Conveniently for Meralco, ERC had previously reset the CSP’s effectivity date last year from Nov 6, 2015 to April 30, 2016. This would exempt the PSAs from undergoing the transparent and public bidding ordained in the CSP,” said Junia.

“Even with this, Meralco’s PSAs were still late, as it was filed after office hours of April 29 2016, which was a Friday and last business day of April. Thus, ERC must follow its own rules and throw out the midnight contracts so that such a transparent and public bidding may take place,” he concluded.

Atty. Aaron Pedrosa of Sanlakas blasted Meralco for the deals, saying that its purchase of power from the generation companies are questionable given that it has vast shares from all seven of the companies.

“With its investments ranging from owning 14% in PEDC, to 49%% of MPGC, and even 50% of SRPGC, Meralco would have even greater influence in setting the price of electricity and ensuring maximum profit for its investors,” said Pedrosa.

“This is not only reflective of the failure of the Epira to prevent market influence by big electricity oligarchs, but also contradicts the promise of decreasing the price of electricity for citizens,” Pedrosa stressed. “We now challenge the ERC to consider the interests of us who would shoulder the burden of these shady dealings and throw out Meralco’s midnight contracts,” Pedrosa concluded.