The Vitality Regulatory Fee (ERC) has slapped the nation’s grid operator with a P3.5-million penalty over the delayed implementation of a few of its tasks, saying this may very well be detrimental to the general public.
In a press release on Saturday, the ERC mentioned the Nationwide Grid Company of the Philippines (NGCP) did not comply with its directives in rolling out in a well timed method capital expenditure (capex) tasks, involving 10 developments.
The tasks that had “unjustified delays” embody: Baloi-Kauswagan-Aurora 230-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Challenge (Part 2) – (Kauswagan-Lala 230-kV T/L Challenge), Pagbilao EHV Substation Challenge, Antipolo EHV Substation Challenge, Tuy (Calaca)-Dasmariñas 500-kV T/L Challenge, Cebu-Lapu-Lapu Transmission Challenge, Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kV Spine Challenge Stage 3 and Tacurong-Kalamansig 69-kV Line.
Implications
The ERC argued that delays might have “severe implications on the reliability of the grid and on the power of the transmission system to soak up new energy capacities, finally affecting public curiosity.”
“It have to be emphasised that this isn’t a problem of whether or not or not these capex tasks have a price affect to the customers as a result of any delay and unrealized capex undertaking is prejudicial to the general public. That is very true for NGCP’s capex tasks since [NGCP] serves as the only real concessionaire for the operation of the transmission system within the nation,” the 81-page resolution learn.
“Any inexcusable delay on these tasks can have a far-reaching affect on our nation’s electrical energy high quality, reliability, safety and affordability. The delayed implementation of its capex tasks will affect the power of the grid to soak up new energy capacities that may tackle the rising energy demand of communities, companies and different sectors of society. All these have implications on the charges of electrical energy and the economic system at massive,” it added.
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The regulator mentioned it was additionally investigating 27 different NGCP tasks.
“We’re learning the issuance and our authorized choices beneath relevant legal guidelines, guidelines and rules,” NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza mentioned, when requested for a remark. —LISBET Ok. ESMAEL INQ