PCC validating initial ERC findings on energy industry competition concerns

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said it has delivered its initial findings on power industry competition to the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), which is currently validating its report.

“We have our own set of questions (on industry competition), our own preliminary findings,” ERC Chairperson Monalisa C. Dimalanta told reporters recently.

“We referred them to PCC for their validation. They view things from a purely competition lens and they have more data, more (expertise) in understanding market behavior,” she added.

In February, the ERC and the PCC formed a joint task force to monitor and investigate allegations of anti-competitive practices in the energy sector.

The task force stems from a 2019 memorandum of agreement between the two regulators to foster competition in the power industry. The agreement was signed in response to concerns about power outages and corresponding increases in electricity prices.

The joint fact-finding inquiries seek to uncover anti-competitive conducts that harm consumer welfare, the ERC said in its February statement.

Asked if the coordination of regulators also includes the investigation into the power outages in Panay in January, Ms. Dimalanta said they are finalizing the findings of the Interim Grid Management Committee.

“We already finished the clarificatory hearings on the Panay outage, now we’re finalizing,” she said.

Multiple power plants tripped on Jan. 2 on Panay Island, which triggered power outages in the Western Visayas. Power was restored three days after. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera