Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said it voluntarily deferred the implementation of the Energy Regulatory Commission-approved interim maximum allowable revenue this year, taking into account the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said that following the pronouncement of enhanced community quarantine across the country in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “NGCP, on its own, informed us that they are not implementing.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros in Senate energy committee hearing on July 6 questioned ERC on whether it approved a petition from NGCP to raise the iMAR from P43 billion in 2019 to P47.1 billion in 2020. Devanadera said a pending application by NGCP was acted upon by the commission en banc on Feb. 13.
“Now, what is known status of this iMAR, if you read the decision, it was approved by the ERC because it will help lower rates,” said Devanadera.