Three power generation companies have secured renewal of their certificates of compliance (COCs), based on the approvals rendered by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

These are for the power plants operated by the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Power Co. Ltd. (CBK-PCL) of Japanese firms Sumitomo Corporation and J-Power; and local firms Tarlac Power Corporation and First Cabanatuan Ventures Corporation.

A COC, which generally has five-year term, is issued to generation companies (Genco) or self-generation facilities (SGF) as testament to their compliance to technical, financial and environmental standards in the course of operation of their power facilities.

For CBK, the facilities covered under its COC include the two units of the Kalayaan pump storage power plant with an aggregate installed capacity of 300.6 megawatts; the two units of Caliraya facility with 35.02 MW installed capacity; and the three units of the Botocan hydroelectric plant with an aggregate installed capacity of 21.995.

For TPC, the facilities covered by its COC are three units of Bunker C-fired diesel engine generating sets with an aggregate capacity of 18.60 MW.
FCVC’s compliance certificate, on the other, will cover four diesel engine generation sets, generally classified as ‘embedded generator’ system because it is directly connected to the distribution system of Cabanatuan Electric Corporation.

TPC is another embedded power generating facility which is directly connected to the distribution system of Tarlac Enterprise Inc., a distribution utility servicing the electricity needs of Tarlac City.

For Gencos or SGFs to continue operating their facilities, it is required under the law that they must secure their COC from the industry regulator.

ERC chairperson Zenaida G. Cruz-Duct emphasized that since power generators are vital components of the electricity industry, it is their job to assure electricity consumers that they “will closely monitor the compliance of power generators to the set standards to ensure quality, affordable and reliable service.”

At the duration of the issued licenses, power generators are strictly required to comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the guidelines, primarily those pertaining to technical, financial and even reportorial aspects.

Ducut further noted that stricter compliance is being required of the generation facilities, especially with the much-anticipated regime of open access in the industry, as this is the era that will finally open up the market to competition.

The ERC chair stressed that power generators “will have to prove themselves worthy to be chosen by potential customers. As such, the generators are expected to strictly adhere to quality standards set by law in order to protect and promote the interest of the electricity consumers, in general.”