To enhance grid security and affordability of electricity in the Philippines, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued nearly 4,000 Certificates of Compliance (COCs) this year.
In a statement, the ERC announced it awarded approximately 3,959 COCs and 334 Provisional Authorities to Operate (PAOs) to power projects from January to November. "The operation of these power facilities accounts for a total of 24,092.79 megawatts (MW) of supply to the country's power grid," the commission stated.
ERC Chairman and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta explained that these certifications will enable additional capacity from new grid-connected facilities and improve consumer affordability.
"This year, we have been able to process approvals and issuances of COCs and PAOs within 30-45 days from submission—a timeline that is much shorter than the 60 days given to us under the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Law for these permits," she said.
According to the ERC, 321 COCs and 19 PAOs were granted to stakeholders in November alone. These energy players include generation companies (GenCos), self-generating facilities (SGFs), distributed energy resources (DERs), and qualified end-users (QEs) nationwide.
COCs authorize the operation of power plants and other power-generating facilities, while PAOs allow GenCos to begin operations while awaiting their COCs.
Last year, the ERC declared that COCs for generation facilities would be "non-expiring" and no longer require renewals.
These permits adhere to the rules of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), specifically Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9136, which mandates that these players must obtain approval from the ERC before commencing operations.