THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the application of Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. to connect its hybrid solar power station to the grid.
In a decision released last Friday, the ERC said it authorized the Mindoro power firm to develop and own point-to-point transmission facilities to connect the 7.4-megawatt-peak (MWp) facility to the National Power Corp.-Small Power Utilities Group’s 69-kilovolt (kV) Mamburao-San Jose Line via a 13.8-kV bunker power station.
Included in the authority to connect were a battery energy storage system and 8.3-MW diesel power station.
The transmission facilities consist of a 4-kilometer, 13.8-kV single circuit transmission line, two take-off substations, including protection and telecommunication equipment, a 75-meter, 13.8- kV armored cable connector line and cubicle-type gas-insulated switchgear.
The ERC said that based on the company’s application, the estimated total cost of the facilities amounted to about P44.5 million.
The regulator noted, however, that construction of the facilities had already been completed on Dec. 20, 2023, which was confirmed during an inspection on Aug. 5 and 6, 2025.
The ERC said that despite the approval given to Occidental Mindoro Consolidated, all generation companies and grid users intending to undertake similar projects must strictly obtain prior authority from them before proceeding with development and construction.
This is for the purpose of safeguarding the integrity and security of the overall electricity grid, the regulator said, ensuring coordinated system planning and preventing the unchecked increase of unauthorized facilities that may compromise system reliability.
