ERC Delays Decision on NGCP’s Ancillary Service Agreements

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has postponed its ruling on 19 ancillary service procurement agreements (ASPAs) submitted by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) due to unresolved issues.

The decision, initially expected in early March, has been deferred to allow the commission’s technical team to conduct further review and data gathering.

Ancillary services are crucial for maintaining the stability of the power grid by balancing supply and demand fluctuations.

NGCP sought approval to procure reserves from various power suppliers, including San Miguel Global Power’s Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. and Universal Power Solutions, as well as ACEN Corporation’s Subic Power Generation Corporation and Ingrid Power Holdings Inc.

ERC Chairperson and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta explained that the commission required more technical information before making a decision on the agreements.

“We do not see the deferral affecting power reliability since we have a good level of reserves also available in the reserve market at this time. We will finalize this early March,” Dimalanta said.

Despite the delay, the ERC assured that the power transmission system remains stable, with adequate reserves available in the market.

The Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) defines ancillary services as essential support services that ensure the reliable operation of the transmission system.

As key power agreements remain under review, stakeholders are advised to stay informed on developments that could impact energy security and reliability.