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RECOGNIZING concerns raised by industry stakeholders and
potential investors in the country’s power sector, the
House Committee on Energy seems about to shelve pending
amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of
2001 (Epira).
A
manifesto signed by the committee members noted that the
proposed amendments have been rendered “moot and
academic” after power stakeholders agreed to fast-track
implementation of open access that will allow power
end-users consuming 1 megawatt and above to choose their
power suppliers.
“The
industry’s openness to fast-track the open-access policy
signals that stakeholders can resolve issues amicably
without necessarily going through the arduous process of
legislation,” said Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo,
chairman of the committee.
He
added, “We believe that the proposed Epira amendments to
accelerate open access have been overtaken by events. So
it’s not a wise move [to] continue debating since the
policy envisioned to speed up its implementation has
been agreed upon by the industry.”
In his
letter to Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, his Senate
counterpart, Arroyo asked that they take a unified move
to resolve the remaining issues in the power sector
through the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC),
instead of further engaging in debates on the Epira
amendments.
Arroyo
recommended that the JCPC collectively assume
jurisdiction and take measures on the issues affecting
the proper implementation of the Epira, such as those on
system loss and expanding lifeline-rate coverage. “These
issues are better discussed in the JCPC, instead of
amending the Epira.”
Arroyo
said the JCPC must continue to monitor implementation of
the Epira in order to ensure that consumer welfare is
not compromised. |
