SM schools join ERC's retail aggregation program for cheaper electricity
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has expanded its retail aggregation program (RAP) to include schools, allowing educational institutions to consolidate their electricity demand and choose their own power suppliers.
In a statement, ERC said that SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Aboitiz-led AdventPower, Inc. (AESI) have partnered to bring two schools into the RAP: National University (NU) and Asia Pacific College (APC).
RAP is an initiative that aims to provide end-users with more control over their energy costs.
AdventPower will serve as the electricity supplier for both institutions, enabling them to secure power at potentially lower costs.
SM Prime is set to aggregate a total power demand of 967.13 kilowatts (kW), which includes APC's facilities and three NU buildings in Manila. NU also announced plans to expand its facilities to 40 locations nationwide.
ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta, who attended the switching ceremony alongside Market Operations Service (MOS) Director Sharon Montañer, noted the broader benefits of this partnership.
The objective of RAP goes beyond lowering the costs of power use in their facilities, Dimalanta stated. It is also about reinvesting those savings in things that truly matter: better classrooms, smarter technology, improved facilities, and potentially, even more affordable tuition.
She further highlighted the power of choice for consumers: Electricity is more than just a utility we pay for – it is a good or a service (in more ways than one) we are empowered to choose. What good would you like your choice today to contribute? What service does your choice make in our nation’s evolving energy journey? In that power of choice lies the promise of a future where learning thrives, innovation gains momentum, and opportunities multiply – for our students, our communities, and our entire nation.
The Philippine Cultural College (PCC) led the integration of schools into RAP in March, aggregating a total capacity of 740 kW for its five facilities in Quezon City, Manila, and Caloocan.
The RAP initiative falls under the Competitive Retail Electricity Market (CREM), designed to offer consumers more options in their electricity supply and pricing.
In related news, EvoEnergi Inc., an affiliate of the D&L group, recently switched to RAP through Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), which will supply power to nearly 62,000 households.