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By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has
directed electricity distributors sourcing their supply from
state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) to allow consumers to
avail of a scheme that charges lower rates whenever their use falls
within off-peak periods.
In a decision, the ERC said that it has given
the green light to distributors to offer the time-of-use (TOU) rates
to their customers on a voluntary basis.
Under Napocor’s TOU scheme, rates are priced
depending on the demand for electricity at a certain period of the
day. Electricity use during the evenings and any other time of the
day when power consumption is low will be charged lower than during
peak periods.
Customers availing of the TOU program will be
installed a special electric meter, at the customer’s cost, to
enable their distributor to bill on a time-sensitive system.
The regulator said its decision will initially
apply to distributors sourcing all their power supply from Napocor.
The ERC said that it will issue a separate set
of rules for utilities, like the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco),
which buys power from sources other than Napocor.
“The customers of Meralco and distribution
utilities similarly situated will thereafter enjoy the benefits of
TOU rates,” the regulator said.
When customers subscribe to the TOU scheme,
demand for electricity is shifted to off-peak periods and the use of
expensive generating plants during peak periods is lessened.
To further promote the scheme, the ERC, in the
same decision, also instructed distributors to conduct education
programs where they can describe the benefits of the TOU scheme.
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