DOE, ERC align on renewable shift and market reforms

The Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) held a high-level coordination meeting on October 14, 2025, to accelerate key reforms in the Philippine power sector.

The meeting, hosted at the ERC’s Ortigas Center office, brought together DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, ERC Chairperson Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, representatives from DOE’s Electric Power Industry Management and Renewable Energy Management bureaus, and all ERC commissioners.

Discussions focused on transitioning off-grid areas away from diesel plants by integrating renewable energy and storage systems to ensure long-term sustainability.

The agenda also covered enhancements to the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) framework, allowing more consumers to choose their electricity suppliers.

Officials reviewed the expansion of the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), which provides end-users with the right to source power from renewable energy providers.

Both agencies addressed the need for stricter performance standards for power generators to ensure grid stability and operational efficiency.

They also discussed further regulation of microgrid operations to strengthen power reliability, especially in underserved and remote communities.

“Both agencies reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing transparency, efficiency, and consumer protection in the evolving Philippine power landscape,” the DOE and ERC said in a joint statement.