Regulator adjusts caps on power generation

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the adjustments in the power generating capacity a single entity can own or acquire to protect consumers from a possible monopoly.

The adjustments were made to reflect the increase in the national grid’s installed generating capacity to 15,832.35 megawatts (MW) in 2014 from 15,717.37 MW in 2013. As such, at the national level, the market share limit was set at 3,958.087 MW in 2014 from 3,929.343 MW in 2013.

ERC data showed that the Luzon grid, which accounted for 76.1 percent of the country’s total load, had an installed generating capacity of 12,041.417 MW this year—1.53 percent higher than the 11,859.988 MW of the previous year.

The Visayas grid, accounting for 11.5 percent of the country’s grid capacity, saw a 10.67 percent drop to 1,827.29 MW from 2,045.64MW. The Mindanao grid, accounting for 12.4 percent of generating capacity, reported an increase in capacity to 1,963.64 MW from 1,811.74 MW.

Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, a company may not own, operate or control more than 30 percent of the installed generating capacity of a grid and/or 25 percent of the country’s total. Power companies cannot own facilities with installed capacities exceeding 3,612.42 MW in Luzon (from 3,558 MW); 548.187MW in the Visayas (from 613.692 MW); and about 589.09 MW in Mindanao (from 589.091 MW).

ERC said factors that led to the increase in the installed generating capacity included the rehabilitation of production wells of geothermal plants in Luzon and installation of more power plants of independent power producers.