As part of stemming the notion that the Philippines has a topsy-turvy power generation system, the President Aquino has recently stated that the government has intentions on going for an open access regime. At a gathering held last Thursday at the Arangkada Philippines Forum, Aquino said that that open access may potentially let power users choose their own electricity suppliers, which can then cause a drop in power rates (due to competitive electric prices).
Open access, according to the President, is to be implemented August of this year. The move is also expected to generate local and foreign investors to set-up more projects in the country. If done as planned, retail level power users and households will eventually join in the regime.
Some have stated that the open access move may be a very risky – and ambitious – move for the government. What concerns most observers is the lack of probable progress from the Department of Energy (DOE), particularly on the exact layout and presentation of the actual plan. Also, the DOE has yet to release the final rates of the feed-in tariffs (FIT), which is of a beneficial and guiding factor for renewable investors (both local and foreign) in the country.
