The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will be prescribing a strict policy that building owners are not bound to rake in profits from the redistribution of electricity supply to their tenants. Emphasizing that the regulatory body has been swarmed with complaints on the manner of electricity redistribution by some entities, ERC chairman Rodolfo B. Albano warned that such unscrupulous practice ought to be curbed as the industry advances to a deregulated environment. To set clear-cut policy on this, the ERC is scheduling a public consultation for the proposed Rules on the Redistribution of Electricity this April 21 at its head office in Ortigas. "The old practice has brought a lot of complaints from among building or apartment occupants which necessitates the ERC to come up with a policy that will regulate the charges being collected by these redistributors," the ERC chief has stressed. As prescribed, the Rules shall govern the redistribution of electricity to unit owners or lessees by a redistributor, such as building or condominium administrator or an apartment owner. To be spared from the coverage of the Rules are buildings or apartments, including condominiums where their approved electrical designs allow installation of separate billing meters for each of their tenants or occupants. "The proposed Rules prohibits electricity redistributors from making profit from such redistribution," the ERC has emphasized. (MMV)

To optimize safety and reliable operations of the transmission network, the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) is working on concrete steps to set up common standards for labeling and classification of equipment use in its facilities. As a way of jumpstarting such important process, the company took the first of a series of forums on the implementing guidelines on the standard system for Site and Equipment Identification and Labelling (SEIL); which commonly applies to various sections for the power industry. TransCo announced that similar SEIL forums on various dates will be carried out in five key cities nationwide; namely - Baguio (March 9), Cebu (March 14), Bacolod (March 16), Cagayan de Oro (April 4) and Davao (April 6). The establishment of such standards, it was emphasized, takes reference from the provisions of the Philippine Grid Code that sets measures on the efficient operation of the transmission system. TransCo officials noted that through the SEIL, a unified identification system shall be adopted for site, equipment or structure for all of its transmission and sub-transmission facilities "for a safer and more efficient management of the entire electric transmission network." For the entire power industry, the universal model in labeling and site identification will be able to reduce the risk of human errors associated with improperly locating, identifying, and distinguishing substation equipment, and transmission line circuit and structures. (MMV)

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) now weighs all FCL (full container load) export containers at its flagship, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), in an effort to further enhance the safety of cargo in the terminal and while in transit at sea. Since April 1, FCL export containers pass through the newly constructed MICT Central Gate, where four lanes of 100-ton capacity weighing bridges are installed. "The weighing of containers is a value-added service to MICT port users as the activity assures the safety of cargo inside the container," said ICTSI senior vice president and MICT general manager Francis Andrews. With containers being weighed, terminal planners are able to accurately plan the stacking of containers in the yard and stowage in the vessel. "We will know where to properly and safely stack containers with the proper weights. Shippers and consignees are assured that the vessel where the cargo is will be stable, safe and sound at sea. With proper planning brought about by accurate weights, containers are moved faster and more efficiently," added Andrews.

Publicly-listed Citystate Savings Bank is expanding its operations with additional three bank branches to serve its growing clientele. In a statement, Citystate president D. Alfred A. Cabangon said the company has submitted this week its application to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for authority to establish branches in Taguig, Caloocan and Muntinlupa. "These are prime locations given the existing residential and commercial development in those areas. And we are inspired by the prospect of bringing Citystate Savings Bank closer to the consumers," Cabangon said. He added that the bank continues to evaluate expansion opportunities in places of high volume retail activities as part of the bank’s planned branch expansion program within a 3-year period. The opening of their next two branches in Cubao, Quezon City and Plaridel, Bulacan is at the end of this year.