Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has already kicked off the competitive selection process (CSP) or bidding for the procurement of additional 480 megawatts of capacity that would augment power supply, especially during the peak demand-months of summer.
Based on approval rendered by the Department of Energy (DOE), Meralco will be carrying out two-tiered capacity contracting for its baseload and peaking requirements that shall be underpinned by power supply agreements (PSAs) to be sealed following successful outcome of the targeted auction processes.
For the baseload power capacity, the supply to be purchased will be 300MW for a five-month contract stretching from February 26, 2023 to July 25, 2023; while its peaking requirement had been pegged at 180MW for a one-year PSA duration from February 26, 2023 to February 25, 2024.
In its tender notice, Meralco’s third party bids and awards committee (TPBAC) has called on all interested parties “to participate in the CSP” that shall be carried out separately for the two power supply deals.
The electric utility company apprised prospective bidders that the submission of expression of interest (EOI) will be on January 5, 2023; while pre-bid conference is slated by January 12 next year.
The deadline of submission of offers will be on February 1, 2023 for the 180MW peaking capacity contract; while the 300MW baseload supply procurement will be by February 2 next year.
CSP is a policy instituted by the DOE which mandates private distribution utilities (DUs) like Meralco; as well as the electric cooperatives, to undertake competitive bidding in their procurement of capacity that shall form part of their supply portfolio.
The all-inclusive goal of the CSP would be for DUs to corner power supply contracts that will end up to be the ‘least cost’ - in terms of tariff impact once passed on in the electric bills of ratepayers.
Next year’s summer months are seen teetering on a ‘very dangerous state’ of supply tightness; that if the habitual malady of power plant outages will recur, consumers in the Luzon grid will be heavily threatened with dilemmas of rotational blackouts.
Most of the policies being advanced by the Marcos administration are focused on the country’s attainment of long-term energy security; while fixes to the short-term dilemmas of the power sector remain scant.