By V. V. Saulon, July 15 2019; Business World

https://www.bworldonline.com/govt-finalizing-rules-for-renewable-energy-suppliers-in-option-program/

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THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) targets to finalize in about two months a circular that will set the guidelines for the issuance of operating permits for renewable energy suppliers under the agency’s green energy option program (GEOP).

Mylene C. Capongcol, director of the department’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB), said the circular should be up for signing by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi after her unit completes gathering comments from stakeholders.

“[A]fter the 25 July pub-con (public consultation) in Clark, REMB will be consolidating and reviewing all comments and suggestions raised in the [Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao] consultations so they could come with an updated version for the Secretary’s consideration by September,” she told reporters in an online message.

On July 11, the bureau conducted the third leg of public consultations on the draft department circular that would guide end-users, renewable energy (RE) suppliers and network service providers in facilitating the option taken by end-users to choose RE resources to supply their energy needs.

Mr. Cusi had said that the DoE was committed “to establish an energy-secure future and bolstering our country’s RE resources is one avenue to achieve this. I am confident that the GEOP will give rise to a reliable market for RE generation and enhance competition among RE and other power suppliers.”

The draft circular providing the “Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Operating Permits to Renewable Energy Suppliers under the Green Energy Option Program,” serves to support the implementation of DoE Circular No. 2018-07-0019 entitled “Promulgating the Rules and Guidelines Governing the Establishment of the Green Energy Option Program Pursuant to the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.”

The public consultation focused on the guidelines and procedures in the issuance, administration and revocation of operating permits to renewable energy suppliers.

Under GEOP, electricity end-users opting to participate in the program have to inform their host distribution utility of their plan to source power from renewable energy resources. The distribution utility and renewable supplier are to inform the end-users of the technical, commercial and legal arrangements necessary to implement GEOP.

The public consultation in Batangas City was led by Ms. Capongcol and Monalisa C. Dimalanta, the recently appointed chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board. The discussions covered sections on renewable energy supplier qualifications, application requirements, processing and approval procedures, and the revocation or cancellation of operating permits.

Previous public consultations were conducted in Cebu City and in Davao City.

The final leg of public consultations will be held on July 25 in Clark, Pampanga. — V. V. Saulon