IEMOP seeks ₱1.1 billion for WESM market management system upgrade
The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) is seeking an additional budget for its market management system (MMS) for the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
In a document posted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), IEMOP is requesting around ₱1.1 billion in additional market fees to fund the MMS project, which is critical infrastructure supporting spot market operations.
IEMOP states that the current system is aged and requires hardware upgrades. "Having been commissioned in 2015, the current MMS has already reached its useful life of almost nine years and has thus shown signs of performance degradation. It has been in operation 24/7 since May 15, 2016, already exceeding the usual service life of an electronic equipment," IEMOP explained.
The market operator estimates that keeping the current system operational for the next 10 years, starting in 2025, would cost approximately ₱1.5 billion. "This estimate is based on a business-as-usual scenario, where the MMS will only be required to function at its current specifications and does not include enhancements to implement recent and upcoming programs and policies directed by the Honorable Commission and the Department of Energy (DOE)," it added.
IEMOP aims to replace the current system by 2027 to meet growing market demands and address WESM requirements. These include increased transaction volumes, the integration of renewable energy (RE) sources, energy storage systems, and regulatory compliance.
Furthermore, the upgraded MMS would address cybersecurity vulnerabilities. IEMOP elaborated, "Additionally, the new system is being developed with the capability to support enhancements in market operations, including potential future integration of a day-ahead mechanism, should this be approved in the future."
If approved by regulators, the additional market charges would be collected over a four-year period and added to the current market rates. These fees would be charged to generators in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.