The Energy Regulatory Commission said it stands by its decision to award the provisional certificate of convenience and public necessity to MORE Electric and Power Corp. as the distributor of electricity in Iloilo City.
The ERC issued the CPCN to MORE on March 5 and revoked the provisional CPCN it issued to PECO. PECO has filed an appeal.
“MORE has franchise, PECO does not. Only thing being discussed now is authority to operate DU [distribution utility]. So that’s where order is concentrated on…In so far as the matter within the exclusive authority of the ERC by virtue of the law which is called EPIRA [Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001], we stand by its order on March 5,” ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said in a radio interview.
She said MORE is recognized as the only distribution utility of Iloilo City and “this should be clear among parties.”
Devanadera said the EPIRA Law also allows utilities to engage in emergency contracts between utilities and power suppliers to ensure that there is no disruption in electricity service.