By 
QUEZON CITY – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) under the leadership of Chairperson and CEO Monalisa C. Dimalanta demonstrated its commitment to fulfilling its mandate as it presented its proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations during a budget hearing held on 16 August 2023.
“I would like to commend the ERC for a job well done primarily on the fourth regulatory reset,” stated Santa Rosa City District Representative Dan S. Fernandez during the budget hearing.
“The ERC will finally complete the reset for the transmission side for the 4th regulatory Period by the 3rd Quarter of this year, and will subsequently complete the reset of the distribution side. Through the reset, we will able to determine the fairness of transmission and distribution rates,” Chairperson Dimalanta pointed out.
In her report to the House Committee on Appropriations, Chairperson and CEO Dimalanta highlighted ERC’s accomplishments in FY 2022 and the first semester of 2023, focusing on pursuing affordability, increasing transparency, reinforcing accountability, establishing and implementing energy democracy programs, and completing reforms as mandated in the EPIRA and other related laws.
“The ERC suspended the FIT-All collection and this allowed savings of almost Php 0.04 per kWh for the consumers nationwide. We have also adopted a liniency program in the Commission for the first time. We have adopted this for the meter shop renewal of distribution utilities. We have also started to develop with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) a study to create an affordability index for power prices,” Chair Dimalanta said.
“I would like to thank the ERC for the suspension of the three percent (3%) franchise tax,” Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) Partylist Representative Sergio C. Dagooc said. Congressman Dagooc manifested his support for the restoration of the proposed budget of ERC.
Chairperson Dimalanta outlined ERC’s strategic direction for FY 2024, including the drafting of new regulatory frameworks. The completion of the performance-based regulation (PBR) rate-setting process will improve the affordability of electricity prices. The ERC also reinforces its commitment to accountability through its consumer empowerment campaign and ERC’s re-empowerment.
Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Arnie B. Fuentebella acknowledged the tangible accomplishments of the energy family. “As we continue pivoting toward digitalization, an investment in energy is an investment in the future of the Philippines. As time change, so does the energy landscape. It is important for us to maintain our momentum and remain committed to a sustainable and inclusive development which necessarily includes a focus on the energy sector,” Representative Fuentebella expressed in his opening remarks.
The strong support for the programs and projects of the energy family is best described in the words of Cagayan de Oro District Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez “Let us look at what are the needs of DOE, and the ERC and then increase the budget.”
During the Committee hearing, the ERC was joined by members of the energy family consisting of the Department of Energy (DOE), National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corporation (NPC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).