Philippines: Meralco consumers may enjoy lower rates

Philippines: Meralco consumers may enjoy lower rates

SOLAR panel provider Solar Philippines said on Thursday that Manila Electric
Co. (Meralco) consumers may enjoy as much as a 30 percent reduction in power
rates soon if its proposal to the distribution utility is approved.

Solar Philippines said it submitted to Meralco a proposal seeking to replace
planned coal plants with solar battery farms under the company's 5,000-MW
(megawatt) Solar Plan.

Last June 28, Meralco published an invitation to other renewable energy
suppliers to bid in a competitive selection process (CSP) for the supply of
85 MW to challenge a proposal priced at P3.50 per kilowatt hour (kWh). The
P3.50 per kWh offer was submitted by Citicore Power Inc. to Meralco.

Although the proposed rate is yet to be divulged next week, Solar
Philippines President Leandro Leviste said it should be the lowest actual
generation cost in the Philippine history.

"We hope this price will signal that solar battery farms offer the least
cost for the Philippines, such that even fossil fuel companies will convert
to solar, to improve their returns through lower costs," Leviste added.

Meralco has pending applications with the Energy Regulatory Commission for
the approval of power supply agreements with Solar Philippines and with
PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc. for the supply of 50 MW each.

Sought for comment, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga only said the CSP
for the 85 MW was still ongoing and has yet to be concluded.

Solar Philippines earlier announced it will begin exporting solar panels
through original equipment manufacturer (OEM) contracts with suppliers from
China, for export to the United States and Europe.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.manilatimes.net/meralco-consumers-may-enjoy-lower-rates/345133/

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com