NGCP seeks ERC’s go signal for 13 projects
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking regulators’ approval for 13 more transmission projects worth a total of P93.67 billion.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) bared this during its open commission meeting on Thursday.
Alvin Jones Ortega, acting director at ERC’s regulatory operations service, said that an immediate approval for the facilities is needed. The implementation of some of the interconnection projects could take months or even years.
Some of the notable projects include the P44.4-billion Cebu-Leyte Interconnection Lines 3 and 4 and the P15-billion Sta. Maria 500-kilovolt (kV) Substation.
There are also the P10-billion Barotac Viejo-Unidos 230 kV Transmission Line and the P4-billion Pinamucan 500 kV Substation.
The NGCP also hopes to build the P2.59-billion Luzon Voltage Improvement Project 5 and the P2.1-billion Dasol 230 kV Substation Project.
The projects, according to Ortega, were filed under the grid operator’s fifth regulatory period application.
Under a rate reset process, a regulated entity such as NGCP must submit to the ERC its spending and proposed projects over a period — usually 5 years — unless the regulator extendeds this. This will then be the basis of the rate that will be passed on to consumers.
The NGCP had proposed 31 projects. The ERC has already acted on 19 of these.
NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said they welcome the ERC’s move.
“[W]e really want expedited and on-time regulatory approvals because that will help NGCP fulfill its mandate,” she said.
