PEMC, PERPI strengthen energy policy research

MANILA — The Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) and the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI) have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding to advance evidence-based policy development, research, and knowledge exchange in the Philippine electricity market.

The partnership aims to strengthen research that can support better energy policies as the country pursues a more competitive electricity market and accelerates its transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

More robust research and data-driven policymaking could ultimately improve market efficiency, support renewable energy integration, and help shape reforms that promote reliable and affordable electricity for consumers and businesses.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on July 30, 2026, during the PERPI Energy Summit at the University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City.

The agreement was signed by PEMC President and Wholesale Electricity Spot Market Governance Officer Atty. Elvin Hayes E. Nidea and PERPI Deputy Executive Director Atty. Angel Chona Grace I. Valero-Nuñez.

The collaboration brings together PEMC, the governing body of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, and PERPI, the country’s independent energy research institute established under Republic Act No. 11572.

Under the three-year agreement, the two institutions will jointly undertake analytical and policy studies covering electricity market operations, power market design, renewable energy integration, and sustainable energy transition.

“This partnership combines an in-depth understanding of the market with independent academic research. By grounding policy discussions in rigorous, data-driven analytics, we can better support a competitive, transparent, and resilient electricity market,” said Atty. Nidea.

The agreement establishes a structured framework for sharing electricity market data while safeguarding market integrity and protecting sensitive information.

PEMC will provide PERPI access only to non-confidential, aggregated, anonymized, and publicly releasable market data.

PERPI will submit proposed research topics for mutual approval before any request for market data is processed.

Information obtained under the agreement may be used exclusively for research, academic work, and policy analysis.

The memorandum expressly prohibits the use of shared information for commercial, adjudicatory, lobbying, or advocacy purposes.

Both institutions also reaffirmed their commitment to complying with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Researchers granted access to covered information will be required to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Beyond collaborative research, the partnership will focus on building technical expertise through joint workshops, roundtable discussions, and knowledge-sharing activities.

The initiative also supports PERPI’s mandate to develop a globally competitive, job-ready, and environmentally responsible energy workforce.

The institutions expect the partnership to produce research papers and policy briefs that will contribute to future reforms and decision-making in the Philippine power sector.

PEMC was established in November 2003 as a non-stock, non-profit corporation through the initiative of the Department of Energy and representatives from various sectors of the electric power industry.

The corporation served as the autonomous market operator and governing body of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market for more than a decade.

The Wholesale Electricity Spot Market is the country’s centralized marketplace where electricity is traded as a commodity and prices are determined by actual supply and demand.

The market began commercial operations in Luzon in June 2006, expanded to the Visayas in December 2010, and started operating in Mindanao in January 2023.

Following the transfer of market operations to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines on Sept. 26, 2018, PEMC continued its role as the governing body of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market through its Board of Directors and the WESM and Renewable Energy Market Governance Committees.