SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to shorten the turnaround time for switching electricity suppliers.
The senator said this was crucial to "ensuring more consumers benefit from the expanded retail electricity market." The ERC earlier lowered the contestability threshold from 500 kilowatts to 100 kilowatts, allowing more small businesses, schools, and households to choose a retail electricity supplier instead of remaining with their distribution utility.
"Opening the market is a big step, but we need to make switching faster and easier. Right now, it can take weeks," Gatchalian said in a statement.
“This reform comes at a critical time as we accelerate our transition to renewable energy," the Senate chief added.
He said making switching seamless "will help drive demand for cleaner and more affordable power." "Inaasahan nating mas marami ang makikinabang sa mas murang kuryente at mas malinis na enerhiya (We expect that more [consumers] would benefit from cheaper electricity and cleaner energy)," Gatchalian said.
