Power retailer Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said Monday it is reviewing the 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Taguig Regional Trial Court against its competitive selection process for an additional 1,000 megawatts capacity to determine its next legal steps.
Meralco said in a statement it has received the court order extending the TRO initiated by the Malampaya consortium.
“The TRO halts our CSP-related activities for 20 days, impacting our efforts to secure the most cost-effective power supply for our customers. We are reviewing the court’s order and consulting with our legal counsel to determine our next steps. This includes evaluating potential delays in the bidding process, which could, unfortunately, lead to higher power rates for our customers,” Meralco senior vice president and head of regulatory management Jose Ronald Valles said.
Valles said that despite these challenges, Meralco remains steadfast in its commitment to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
He said Meralco’s dedication to securing the most cost-effective power supply for its customers is unwavering and vowed to continue to diligently work within the legal framework to fulfill this mandate, which is the cornerstone of all its CSPs.
“These processes are conducted in strict accordance with the rules set forth by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Notably, the DOE has granted a Certificate of Conformity for Meralco to proceed with the CSPs, and neither the DOE nor the ERC has identified any irregularities in the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the 1000MW CSPs,” Valles said.
“By law, the DOE and ERC are the administrative agencies that have primary jurisdiction over CSP or bidding processes. Both play a crucial role in setting the regulatory framework and ensuring the integrity of the competitive selection process for power supply,” he said.
Valles said the Malampaya consortium does not participate in the CSP as it does not directly supply to or contract with Meralco.
He said power plants utilizing Malampaya gas are also not excluded from participating in the bidding process.
“On the contrary, they are among the prospective bidders who have shown interest in submitting their offers. Meralco appreciates the public’s understanding as we navigate through this legal process. We assure our customers and stakeholders of our continued efforts to advocate for their best interests and secure a stable, and least cost power supply,” Valles said.
