Scope of Application
- Applies to the Contestable Market.
- Applies to Retail Electricity Suppliers (RES), Distribution Utilities (DUs), Suppliers of Last Resort (SOLRs).
- Includes the Central Registration Body (CRB) and other relevant industry participants.
Key Definitions
- Act: Republic Act No. 9136 (Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001).
- Contestable Customer: Qualified electricity end-users eligible to choose their electricity supplier.
- Distribution Utility (DU): Entities with exclusive franchise to operate distribution systems.
- Retail Electricity Supplier (RES): Authorized entities to sell or broker electricity to contestable customers.
- Switching: Commercial transfer of Contestable Customer from one supplier to another.
- Single Billing vs. Dual/Multiple Billing: Options for how customers receive electricity bills.
- Central Registration Body (CRB): Independent entity managing customer switching and data exchange.
Switching Process
- Switching to a new RES requires no outstanding balance with current supplier or DU.
- Security deposits may be required and must be settled upon switching.
- Refunds of security/bill deposits are mandated upon migration.
- DU is the default meter service provider until competitive metering services are established.
Metering Services
- DU handles metering procurement, installation, maintenance, and data dissemination.
- NGCP is the default meter provider for directly connected contestable customers.
Billing and Payments
- Contestable Customers may choose Single or Dual/Multiple Billing schemes, maintainable for at least one year.
- No charges for changing billing methods.
- Bills must contain clear customer service info, ERC Consumer Affairs contact, and detailed usage and charges.
- Single Billing consolidates all charges into one bill from RES, including wheeling charges.
- RES acts as collecting agent for wheeling charges and must remit payments timely.
- Late payment charges are allowed under specified conditions.
- Dual/Multiple Billing requires separate bills from Network Service Providers, RES, and WESM (if applicable).
Disconnection and Reconnection
- Disconnection deferred if outstanding balances are paid before scheduled disconnection or upon recall of disconnection notice.
- Disconnected customers remain liable for outstanding obligations.
- Reconnection must occur within 24 hours upon notice of reconnection and payment.
- Reconnection fees apply.
- Disconnection and reconnection procedures comply with existing DOE and ERC issuances.
Prohibited Acts
- RES prohibited from anti-competitive agreements and fixed quantity or take-or-pay provisions.
- No cancellation or termination charges after six months from contract start.
- Network Service Providers must not delay submission of metering data.
- Distribution Utilities must not prevent Contestable Customer's choice of RES.
- RES must not keep original Certificate of Contestability.
- Any changes in load shedding protocols due to migration to contestable market are prohibited.
- Violations considered anti-competitive and subject to fines and penalties.
Dispute Resolution
- Contingency procedures for B2B System or CRSS downtime.
- Data discrepancies temporarily resolved using Network Service Provider data.
- All disputes related to switching resolved by ERC dispute resolution process.
- Transaction timeframes stipulated for receiving requests and notices.
Reportorial Requirements
- CRB submits quarterly reports of contestable customers.
- DUs and NGCP submit monthly data on large electricity users.
- RES submit quarterly reports on contestable customers and sales.
- ERC maintains confidentiality of sensitive information.
Sanctions
- ERC empowered to impose fines and penalties for violations according to administrative guidelines under RA 9136.
Rule Amendments
- ERC to amend rules as necessary following public consultations.
- Inconsistent previous rules modified accordingly.
Separability Clause
- Declared unconstitutional provisions shall not invalidate remaining provisions.
Effectivity
- Rules take effect fifteen days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation or the Official Gazette.