The Department of Energy (DOE) said Wednesday the retail competition and open access (RCOA) and green energy option program (GEOP) in Mindanao will start on March 26.
The DOE issued Department Circular No. DC 2024-03-0009, recognizing the readiness of the Mindanao grid for the commercial operations of RCOA and GEOP.
Both RCOA and GEOP allow consumers to choose their own suppliers to promote customer empowerment.
Under the RCOA, which is part of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, contestable consumers whose monthly average peak demand reaches at least 500 kilowatts can choose their preferred retail electricity supplier (RES).
“All electricity end-users whose average peak demand falls within the threshold for contestability set by the ERC shall be allowed, on a voluntary basis, to source their electricity supply from a retail electricity supplier,” the circular read.
It said electricity end- users whose average peak demand does not fall within the contestability threshold, but are nevertheless interested to participate in RCOA, may participate as part of an aggregated demand in accordance with prevailing ERC rules on demand aggregation.
Meanwhile, GEOP is a voluntary policy mechanism under the Renewable Energy act of 2008 that allows electricity users to choose RE as their source of energy.
The DOE said all electricity end-users in the Mindanao grid whose average peak demand falls within the threshold set by DOE for participation in the GEOP should be allowed on a voluntary basis, to source their electricity supply from RE supplier.
The GEOP threshold is now at 100 kilowatts and above.