Philippines: Meralco evaluates bids challenging Citicore offer
On June 28, Meralco invited solar power developers to challenge the offer
made by Citicore as required by the rules issued by the Energy Regulatory
Commission (ERC) on competitive selection process (CSP). It set the deadline
for submissions on July 25.
"BAC [Meralco's bids and awards committee is] currently assessing if
submissions complied with qualifying requirements," said Lawrence S.
Fernandez, Meralco vice-president and head of its utility economics, when
asked about the outcome of selection process.
Citicore offered to Meralco the output of its three solar power plants,
namely: Next Generation Power Technology Corp. (NGPTC), First Toledo Solar
Energy Corp. (FTSEC) and Silay Solar Power, Inc. The plants are in
Mariveles, Bataan; Toledo, Cebu; and Silay, Negros Occidental.
Under the deal, the plants are to deliver at least 75 megawatts (MW) up to
85 MW from the first to the fifth years of a 20-year contract. From the
sixth to the 20th year, the supply was placed at 85 MW. The contract date is
to start upon the approval of the ERC.
The offered price at P3.5 per kWh is subject to a 1.5% annual escalation
beginning from the second to the 10th contract years, and 1% from the 11th
to the 20th contract years. In both cases, the escalation is applied to 100%
of the offered price.
In its invitation for price challenge, Meralco said an offer made by a
challenger should be under the same terms and conditions of the power supply
agreement (PSA) provided by the distribution utility, except for the
financial proposal.
Should Meralco not receive any expression of interest by 4:00 p.m. of July
10, it will declare a failure of the price challenge process. The company
did not immediately reply whether there would be a second round of price
challenge.
A previous PSA reached between the utility and two solar power developers
had become the "reference" for new projects that have no guaranteed
feed-in-tariff (FiT).
Under the government's FiT scheme, solar power investors were awarded a rate
of P8.69 for every kilowatt-hour they export to the electricity grid. The
installation target for that scheme had been fully subscribed.
Based on Meralco's previous two PSAs with separate solar power developers,
the reference rate should be within a range of P4.69 to P5.39 per kWh. The
distribution utility is awaiting approval from the ERC for the two separate
power supply deals.
Last week, Citicore said a certificate of compliance had been awarded to
FTSEC and NGPTC after they had completed the necessary permits and
requirements to operate their respective power generation facilities.
NGPTC secured its certificate on July 6, while FTSEC obtained its own on
July 18. The certification proves that a power plant meets applicable
regulations, making it safe to switch on and operate. Existing rules require
the ERC certificate to operate a new power generation facility.
Meralco's controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is
partly owned by PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT
Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in
BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=meralco-eval
uates-bids-challenging-citicore-offer&id=149010
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Monday, July 31, 2017
Vietnam: Vinacomin will divest the state capital at Vinacomin - Power Corporation
Vietnam: Vinacomin will divest the state capital at Vinacomin - Power
Corporation
Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited
(Vinacomin) divest the state capital at Vinacmin - Power Corporation by
decreasing it from 99.68% to 65%. This is the information given by Mr.
Nguyen Van Bien, Vinacomin Vice General Director at the conference
"Investment opportunity to Vinacomin Power Corporation (Code: DTK - UpCOM)"
on July 26, 2017.
According to the report of Vinacomin, at present, the total charter capital
of Vinacomin Power is 6,800 billion VND (680 million shares with 10,000 VNĐ
each). Thus, the shares divested this time will be 235,808,500 (equivalent
to 2,358 billion VND).
From a 100% state-owned enterprise, Vinacomin Power has been equitized since
January 15, 2016.
Mr. Bien also informed that in the next step of restructuring project,
Vinacomin will decrease the state capital to 51%. Further, in accordance of
Government directions, Vinacomin will assess how to appropriately divest and
satisfy the desire to increase the stocks of the shareholders.
At present, Vinacomin Power owns 7 coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs)
with a total capacity of 1,730 MW and average generation of 9.5 billion kWh,
recent years. All the TPPs of Vinacomin use Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFD)
boilers suitable for poor quality coal as dust 6B, 7B.
Besides, Vinacomin Power also holds about 5 - 10% of shares in three other
TPPs which have a total capacity of 3600 MW.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/coal-mineral/vinacomin-will-divest-the-st
ate-capital-at-vinacomin-power-corporation.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Corporation
Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited
(Vinacomin) divest the state capital at Vinacmin - Power Corporation by
decreasing it from 99.68% to 65%. This is the information given by Mr.
Nguyen Van Bien, Vinacomin Vice General Director at the conference
"Investment opportunity to Vinacomin Power Corporation (Code: DTK - UpCOM)"
on July 26, 2017.
According to the report of Vinacomin, at present, the total charter capital
of Vinacomin Power is 6,800 billion VND (680 million shares with 10,000 VNĐ
each). Thus, the shares divested this time will be 235,808,500 (equivalent
to 2,358 billion VND).
From a 100% state-owned enterprise, Vinacomin Power has been equitized since
January 15, 2016.
Mr. Bien also informed that in the next step of restructuring project,
Vinacomin will decrease the state capital to 51%. Further, in accordance of
Government directions, Vinacomin will assess how to appropriately divest and
satisfy the desire to increase the stocks of the shareholders.
At present, Vinacomin Power owns 7 coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs)
with a total capacity of 1,730 MW and average generation of 9.5 billion kWh,
recent years. All the TPPs of Vinacomin use Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFD)
boilers suitable for poor quality coal as dust 6B, 7B.
Besides, Vinacomin Power also holds about 5 - 10% of shares in three other
TPPs which have a total capacity of 3600 MW.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/coal-mineral/vinacomin-will-divest-the-st
ate-capital-at-vinacomin-power-corporation.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Philippines: Meralco solicits bids for 85-MW solar deal
Philippines: Meralco solicits bids for 85-MW solar deal
Manila Electric Co., the country's largest power retailer, issued an
invitation to other renewable energy developers to challenge the price
offered by Citicore Power Inc. for the supply of up to 85 megawatts from
three solar power plants at P3.50 per kilowatt-hour.
Meralco said in a published invitation for a price challenge that Citicore
offered to supply 75 MW to 85 MW of capacity from its three solar plants,
including Next Generation Power Technology Corp. in Mariveles, Bataan, First
Toledo Solar Energy Corp.in Toledo, Cebu and Silay Solar Power Inc. in
Silay, Negros Occidental.
Meralco is required to publish an invitation for a price challenge under the
competitive selection process rules of the Energy Department and the Energy
Regulatory Commission.
The distributor said the price challenger's solar plant should be able to
deliver power 20 years from commencement of the contract period.
Meralco said the price challenger's power plant must be covered by a solar
energy service contract with the Energy Department and should have a valid
certificate of registration as a renewable energy developer.
The price challenger must own and control the power plant.
Meralco said the price challenger must also show satisfactory evidence that
it had the financial capacity to fulfill its obligations to the company.
Qualified price challengers were given until Aug. 14 to submit their
financial proposals to Meralco.
Citicore's P3.50 per kWh price offer is lower compared to the offers of
Solar Philippines Tanauan Corp. and PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc.
Meralco has a pending application with the ERC for approval of its power
supply agreement for the supply of 50 MW capacity from Solar Philippines at
P5.49 per kWh.
Meralco also has a separate pending application for a 50-MW supply agreement
with PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc. at P4.69 per kWh.
Manolo Candelaria, Citicore Power executive vice president for commercial
and development operations, said two other companies bought bid documents
intending to challenge the company's price offer to Meralco.
Candelaria said the P3.50 per kWh rate was "based on our assessment of
current government policy directions and industry competition."
Citicore Power is a renewable energy company committed to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions through solar, wind, hydro, and biomass projects
across the Philippines and Asia.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://thestandard.com.ph/business/power-technology/243220/meralco-solicits-
bids-for-85-mw-solar-deal.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Manila Electric Co., the country's largest power retailer, issued an
invitation to other renewable energy developers to challenge the price
offered by Citicore Power Inc. for the supply of up to 85 megawatts from
three solar power plants at P3.50 per kilowatt-hour.
Meralco said in a published invitation for a price challenge that Citicore
offered to supply 75 MW to 85 MW of capacity from its three solar plants,
including Next Generation Power Technology Corp. in Mariveles, Bataan, First
Toledo Solar Energy Corp.in Toledo, Cebu and Silay Solar Power Inc. in
Silay, Negros Occidental.
Meralco is required to publish an invitation for a price challenge under the
competitive selection process rules of the Energy Department and the Energy
Regulatory Commission.
The distributor said the price challenger's solar plant should be able to
deliver power 20 years from commencement of the contract period.
Meralco said the price challenger's power plant must be covered by a solar
energy service contract with the Energy Department and should have a valid
certificate of registration as a renewable energy developer.
The price challenger must own and control the power plant.
Meralco said the price challenger must also show satisfactory evidence that
it had the financial capacity to fulfill its obligations to the company.
Qualified price challengers were given until Aug. 14 to submit their
financial proposals to Meralco.
Citicore's P3.50 per kWh price offer is lower compared to the offers of
Solar Philippines Tanauan Corp. and PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc.
Meralco has a pending application with the ERC for approval of its power
supply agreement for the supply of 50 MW capacity from Solar Philippines at
P5.49 per kWh.
Meralco also has a separate pending application for a 50-MW supply agreement
with PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc. at P4.69 per kWh.
Manolo Candelaria, Citicore Power executive vice president for commercial
and development operations, said two other companies bought bid documents
intending to challenge the company's price offer to Meralco.
Candelaria said the P3.50 per kWh rate was "based on our assessment of
current government policy directions and industry competition."
Citicore Power is a renewable energy company committed to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions through solar, wind, hydro, and biomass projects
across the Philippines and Asia.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://thestandard.com.ph/business/power-technology/243220/meralco-solicits-
bids-for-85-mw-solar-deal.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Vietnam hopes to export renewable energy equipment by 2050
Vietnam hopes to export renewable energy equipment by 2050
At a recent conference on the development of small and medium-sized
hydropower plants and renewable energy, Pham Trong Phuc, head of the
Ministry of Industry and Trade's General Department of Energy spoke about
the country's renewable energy development plan.
According to Thuc, Vietnam's localisation rate of renewable energy equipment
is expected to reach 30% by 2020 and 60% by 2030. The country has set a
target to export the renewable energy equipment by 2050.
Renewable energy is also expected to meet 5% of demand for means of
transport in Vietnam by 2020 and the rate is aimed to be raised by 13% by
2030 and 25% by 2050.
By 2030, 100% of Vietnamese families are expected to use equipment run by
renewable energy and the rate is 30% by 2020 and 60% by 2025.
In reality, nearly 90% of equipment for renewable energy production is still
imported from China, Germany, India and the US.
Meanwhile, the rate of Vietnamese companies involved in this sector is very
modest.
Some equipment for wind energy produced by foreign-invested companies in
Vietnam has been exported to the US and Australia.
The Vietnamese government has issued policies to support for the renewable
energy sector, including tax exemptions for imported equipment and land use
for projects in this field.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that to date Vietnam has
licensed 16 renewable energy projects valued at nearly USD800 million.
Experts said that Vietnam holds huge potential for renewable energy
development. Solar energy is abundant with an average solar radiation of
5kWh/m2 per day across the country, while bio-mass output from agricultural
production and waste are estimated at 10 million tonnes a year.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/182887/vietnam-hopes-to-export-ren
ewable-energy-equipment-by-2050.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
At a recent conference on the development of small and medium-sized
hydropower plants and renewable energy, Pham Trong Phuc, head of the
Ministry of Industry and Trade's General Department of Energy spoke about
the country's renewable energy development plan.
According to Thuc, Vietnam's localisation rate of renewable energy equipment
is expected to reach 30% by 2020 and 60% by 2030. The country has set a
target to export the renewable energy equipment by 2050.
Renewable energy is also expected to meet 5% of demand for means of
transport in Vietnam by 2020 and the rate is aimed to be raised by 13% by
2030 and 25% by 2050.
By 2030, 100% of Vietnamese families are expected to use equipment run by
renewable energy and the rate is 30% by 2020 and 60% by 2025.
In reality, nearly 90% of equipment for renewable energy production is still
imported from China, Germany, India and the US.
Meanwhile, the rate of Vietnamese companies involved in this sector is very
modest.
Some equipment for wind energy produced by foreign-invested companies in
Vietnam has been exported to the US and Australia.
The Vietnamese government has issued policies to support for the renewable
energy sector, including tax exemptions for imported equipment and land use
for projects in this field.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that to date Vietnam has
licensed 16 renewable energy projects valued at nearly USD800 million.
Experts said that Vietnam holds huge potential for renewable energy
development. Solar energy is abundant with an average solar radiation of
5kWh/m2 per day across the country, while bio-mass output from agricultural
production and waste are estimated at 10 million tonnes a year.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/182887/vietnam-hopes-to-export-ren
ewable-energy-equipment-by-2050.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Singapore electricity sector to see shake-up with full liberalisation
Singapore electricity sector to see shake-up with full liberalisation
THE future of Singapore's electricity sector is starting to take shape as
the country approaches the last leg of a long journey in the liberalisation
of the market.
With 25 electricity retailers slugging it out for a pie of the market that
will be fully liberalised next year, the range of new services they will
offer - by tapping various new technologies and new business models - will
no doubt bring immense benefits to end-consumers.
To keep up, however, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) will have to redraw
some of the current regulations. And given how incumbent power generation
companies have warned that the current market situation is unsustainable and
posing severe financial strain for them, it will also have to keep a
watchful eye on the market.
The full liberalisation of the market has been a long time coming. Since
2001, steadily more consumers have been handed the freedom to switch from
buying electricity at the regulated tariff from SP Services to buying from
an electricity retailer which offers packages with different price plans.
At the moment, only consumers using above two megawatt-hour (MWh) - mainly
industrial and commercial consumers - can do so; another 1.3 million
consumers, mainly households, will enjoy this flexibility by the second half
of 2018.
Ahead of this, the number of electricity retailers has surged, from seven in
2013 to the current 25 - a number that continues to grow.
It has also changed the way incumbents operate here.
For instance, Sembcorp Industries, which is in the midst of a strategic
review after new CEO Neil McGregor arrived at the group, has signalled its
intent to move into the solar space in Singapore through a recent S$3.3
million acquisition of two operating rooftop solar facilities from REC
Solar.
The "small but significant" acquisition will complement the group's
electricity generation and retail capabilities in the country, said Mr
McGregor in a statement.
The Singapore government, while firm on the stance that it will not
subsidise solar power, has also done its part to spur solar adoption.
JTC last month gave Sun Electric the rights to install solar panels on the
rooftops of 27 JTC buildings, and to export the solar energy into the grid
which can also be sold to users in other buildings. This marked a new
business model as previously, power generated under solar leasing models
primarily served users of the building itself before excess energy is
brought into the grid.
Government agencies have also aggregated their solar demand through the
SolarNova scheme led by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
In the private sector, various companies have taken the green route. Apple
made waves in late-2015 when it became the first company here to be entirely
powered by renewable energy in a landmark deal with local solar developer
Sunseap.
More recently, Keppel Land said its corporate headquarters in Bugis Junction
Towers are now fully powered by renewable energy generated offsite.
The increased carbon-consciousness across both the public and private
sectors has accelerated the adoption of solar power on the island, with
installed solar capacity nearly quadrupling over the last three years to
reach 129.8 MWp at the end of the first quarter this year.
Meanwhile, tests to explore the viability of placing solar panels on
reservoirs are underway, with 10 different photovoltaic systems currently
being tested out in the western Tengeh Reservoir. If viable, this promises
to raise the amount of solar energy that can be generated in land-scarce
Singapore.
But a rise in solar adoption also brings along increased stress on the grid
and other operational challenges, as solar power is intermittent in nature;
power generation firms will have to ensure there is sufficient baseload
power even with higher use of solar energy. Among the issues that will have
to be worked out is how the increased costs in operating the grid and
ensuring sufficient baseload power can be fairly distributed among the
various parties involved.
To be sure, renewable energy such as solar is only one of a few technologies
changing the face of the energy sector worldwide; others include energy
storage and blockchain.
To this end, the EMA's recent proposal for a regulatory sandbox to test new
energy technologies and business models is surely a good move.
As the local electricity sector becomes more sophisticated, new products
will be introduced to the market. Already, electricity retailer iSwitch has
brought in carbon credits to give consumers another route to go green. Other
retailers have also indicated interest to try new products with the
regulatory sandbox.
Having more choices is almost always beneficial for the consumer - as long
as these are sustainable. For now, it is still unclear if the local market
is large enough for the many retailers to survive.
Therefore, even as the energy buffet table fills up, the EMA will certainly
have to keep a watchful eye. It might take quite a while yet before the
shape of Singapore's future electricity market fully emerges.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/singapore-electricity-sec
tor-to-see-shake-up-with-full-liberalisation?xtor=EREC-16-1[BT_Newsletter_1]
-20170731-[Singapore+electricity+sector+to+see+shake-up+with+full+liberalisa
tion]&xts=538380
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
THE future of Singapore's electricity sector is starting to take shape as
the country approaches the last leg of a long journey in the liberalisation
of the market.
With 25 electricity retailers slugging it out for a pie of the market that
will be fully liberalised next year, the range of new services they will
offer - by tapping various new technologies and new business models - will
no doubt bring immense benefits to end-consumers.
To keep up, however, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) will have to redraw
some of the current regulations. And given how incumbent power generation
companies have warned that the current market situation is unsustainable and
posing severe financial strain for them, it will also have to keep a
watchful eye on the market.
The full liberalisation of the market has been a long time coming. Since
2001, steadily more consumers have been handed the freedom to switch from
buying electricity at the regulated tariff from SP Services to buying from
an electricity retailer which offers packages with different price plans.
At the moment, only consumers using above two megawatt-hour (MWh) - mainly
industrial and commercial consumers - can do so; another 1.3 million
consumers, mainly households, will enjoy this flexibility by the second half
of 2018.
Ahead of this, the number of electricity retailers has surged, from seven in
2013 to the current 25 - a number that continues to grow.
It has also changed the way incumbents operate here.
For instance, Sembcorp Industries, which is in the midst of a strategic
review after new CEO Neil McGregor arrived at the group, has signalled its
intent to move into the solar space in Singapore through a recent S$3.3
million acquisition of two operating rooftop solar facilities from REC
Solar.
The "small but significant" acquisition will complement the group's
electricity generation and retail capabilities in the country, said Mr
McGregor in a statement.
The Singapore government, while firm on the stance that it will not
subsidise solar power, has also done its part to spur solar adoption.
JTC last month gave Sun Electric the rights to install solar panels on the
rooftops of 27 JTC buildings, and to export the solar energy into the grid
which can also be sold to users in other buildings. This marked a new
business model as previously, power generated under solar leasing models
primarily served users of the building itself before excess energy is
brought into the grid.
Government agencies have also aggregated their solar demand through the
SolarNova scheme led by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
In the private sector, various companies have taken the green route. Apple
made waves in late-2015 when it became the first company here to be entirely
powered by renewable energy in a landmark deal with local solar developer
Sunseap.
More recently, Keppel Land said its corporate headquarters in Bugis Junction
Towers are now fully powered by renewable energy generated offsite.
The increased carbon-consciousness across both the public and private
sectors has accelerated the adoption of solar power on the island, with
installed solar capacity nearly quadrupling over the last three years to
reach 129.8 MWp at the end of the first quarter this year.
Meanwhile, tests to explore the viability of placing solar panels on
reservoirs are underway, with 10 different photovoltaic systems currently
being tested out in the western Tengeh Reservoir. If viable, this promises
to raise the amount of solar energy that can be generated in land-scarce
Singapore.
But a rise in solar adoption also brings along increased stress on the grid
and other operational challenges, as solar power is intermittent in nature;
power generation firms will have to ensure there is sufficient baseload
power even with higher use of solar energy. Among the issues that will have
to be worked out is how the increased costs in operating the grid and
ensuring sufficient baseload power can be fairly distributed among the
various parties involved.
To be sure, renewable energy such as solar is only one of a few technologies
changing the face of the energy sector worldwide; others include energy
storage and blockchain.
To this end, the EMA's recent proposal for a regulatory sandbox to test new
energy technologies and business models is surely a good move.
As the local electricity sector becomes more sophisticated, new products
will be introduced to the market. Already, electricity retailer iSwitch has
brought in carbon credits to give consumers another route to go green. Other
retailers have also indicated interest to try new products with the
regulatory sandbox.
Having more choices is almost always beneficial for the consumer - as long
as these are sustainable. For now, it is still unclear if the local market
is large enough for the many retailers to survive.
Therefore, even as the energy buffet table fills up, the EMA will certainly
have to keep a watchful eye. It might take quite a while yet before the
shape of Singapore's future electricity market fully emerges.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/singapore-electricity-sec
tor-to-see-shake-up-with-full-liberalisation?xtor=EREC-16-1[BT_Newsletter_1]
-20170731-[Singapore+electricity+sector+to+see+shake-up+with+full+liberalisa
tion]&xts=538380
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Indonesia: PLN to enter internet business amid slowing sales
Indonesia: PLN to enter internet business amid slowing sales
State electricity firm PLN plans to penetrate into the internet business by
installing "smart meter boxes" in the houses of its 65.9 million customers
nationwide amid declining growth in its electricity sales.
PLN has found it difficult to monitor the quality of its electricity supply
amid mounting reports from customers that have experienced sporadic outages
and under-voltage supply. Therefore, it plans to replace all conventional
electricity meter boxes currently installed in the houses of its customers
with new automated ones by 2019.
The new boxes will be able to collect data, including the volume and voltage
of the electricity used by each customer, so that PLN can monitor the
quality of its electricity supply on a daily basis.
"After the new meter boxes are installed, we plan to offer new internet
services using our electricity networks to 40-60 percent of our total
customers. We can also be an internet provider through the presence of these
'smart meter boxes'," PLN marketing division head Benny Marbun said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/07/30/pln-to-enter-internet-business
-amid-slowing-sales.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
State electricity firm PLN plans to penetrate into the internet business by
installing "smart meter boxes" in the houses of its 65.9 million customers
nationwide amid declining growth in its electricity sales.
PLN has found it difficult to monitor the quality of its electricity supply
amid mounting reports from customers that have experienced sporadic outages
and under-voltage supply. Therefore, it plans to replace all conventional
electricity meter boxes currently installed in the houses of its customers
with new automated ones by 2019.
The new boxes will be able to collect data, including the volume and voltage
of the electricity used by each customer, so that PLN can monitor the
quality of its electricity supply on a daily basis.
"After the new meter boxes are installed, we plan to offer new internet
services using our electricity networks to 40-60 percent of our total
customers. We can also be an internet provider through the presence of these
'smart meter boxes'," PLN marketing division head Benny Marbun said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/07/30/pln-to-enter-internet-business
-amid-slowing-sales.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Philippines: Power co-ops seek tax exemption
Philippines: Power co-ops seek tax exemption
State-managed electric cooperatives across the nation, all 121 of them,
should be spared from a comprehensive tax reform program that the Duterte
administration is pushing vigorously, according to the National
Electrification Administration (NEA).
NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said the agency was pursuing support
from the Department of Justice on NEA's position that tax privileges
accorded to power cooperatives registered with the Cooperative Development
Authority (CDA) be applied also to the 121 utilities.
According to the CDA, the Cooperative Code grants cooperatives tax exemption
"to enable them to develop into viable and responsive economic enterprises
and thereby fulfill their purpose of serving the need of the members."
"We are looking forward to have the favorable opinion of the DOJ that the
electric cooperatives registered with NEA be tax-exempt as well," Masongsong
said.
He said the NEA was engaged in discussions along this line with energy
committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as
the departments of Energy and of Finance.
Citing Republic Act No. 10531, which amends the NEA Charter to strengthen
the agency, Masongsong said all non-stock and non-profit rural energy
distribution utilities were entitled to preferential rights granted to
cooperatives under the Local Government Code of 1991 and other related laws.
He said that RA 10531 allowed NEA to prioritize the grant of incentives to
electric cooperatives that were managed effectively and efficiently and
which complied consistently with its mandates and directives.
Last June, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said cooperatives
were among interest groups that have been very vocal in seeking exemptions
from tax reform.
"For those who want exemptions, I tell them that there is no free lunch,"
Chua said. "If (one party is given) an exemption, somebody else would have
to (take up that burden). It cannot be that everything is free from heaven."
"In the DOF, we are not here to defend a sector or promote (a particular)
interest," he said. "We're here to raise money for this entire country's
needs and to look after this country's future."
Even then, Chua said the DOF was open to discussing interest groups'
concerns and considering their proposals.
In terms of efforts toward full, nationwide electrification, the NEA's
latest goal is to achieve this by 2022.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://business.inquirer.net/234103/power-co-ops-seek-tax-exemption
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
State-managed electric cooperatives across the nation, all 121 of them,
should be spared from a comprehensive tax reform program that the Duterte
administration is pushing vigorously, according to the National
Electrification Administration (NEA).
NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said the agency was pursuing support
from the Department of Justice on NEA's position that tax privileges
accorded to power cooperatives registered with the Cooperative Development
Authority (CDA) be applied also to the 121 utilities.
According to the CDA, the Cooperative Code grants cooperatives tax exemption
"to enable them to develop into viable and responsive economic enterprises
and thereby fulfill their purpose of serving the need of the members."
"We are looking forward to have the favorable opinion of the DOJ that the
electric cooperatives registered with NEA be tax-exempt as well," Masongsong
said.
He said the NEA was engaged in discussions along this line with energy
committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as
the departments of Energy and of Finance.
Citing Republic Act No. 10531, which amends the NEA Charter to strengthen
the agency, Masongsong said all non-stock and non-profit rural energy
distribution utilities were entitled to preferential rights granted to
cooperatives under the Local Government Code of 1991 and other related laws.
He said that RA 10531 allowed NEA to prioritize the grant of incentives to
electric cooperatives that were managed effectively and efficiently and
which complied consistently with its mandates and directives.
Last June, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said cooperatives
were among interest groups that have been very vocal in seeking exemptions
from tax reform.
"For those who want exemptions, I tell them that there is no free lunch,"
Chua said. "If (one party is given) an exemption, somebody else would have
to (take up that burden). It cannot be that everything is free from heaven."
"In the DOF, we are not here to defend a sector or promote (a particular)
interest," he said. "We're here to raise money for this entire country's
needs and to look after this country's future."
Even then, Chua said the DOF was open to discussing interest groups'
concerns and considering their proposals.
In terms of efforts toward full, nationwide electrification, the NEA's
latest goal is to achieve this by 2022.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://business.inquirer.net/234103/power-co-ops-seek-tax-exemption
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
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