ERC adopts faster case resolution, vows stronger consumer protection

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has rolled out sweeping reforms to speed up the resolution of regulatory cases and strengthen consumer protection while supporting the growth of the country’s energy sector.

ERC chairperson Atty. Francis Saturnino Juan, who was recently appointed to head the agency, said the new measures are designed to build confidence among stakeholders through fairness, transparency, and internal reforms that address long-pending cases. Among the steps taken are the assignment of oversight roles to commissioners and the empowerment of personnel to fast-track decisions.

“As part of these reforms, the ERC has formally adopted the conduct of summary proceedings for certain applications deemed critical to electricity supply and access,” Juan said.

Under Resolution No. 16, Series of 2025, promulgated last September 29, uncontested applications such as the development of dedicated point-to-point transmission facilities, capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects, confirmation of over- or under-recoveries, approval of power supply contracts, and the issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity may now be acted on through shorter deliberation procedures.

“This measure is expected to accelerate deliberations that often face prolonged hearings. It underscores the Commission’s commitment to a ‘new ERC’ defined by efficiency, fairness, and responsiveness,” Juan added.

Parallel with these efficiency measures, the ERC is also enhancing guidelines for the Competitive Selection Process (CSP), which Juan described as the “highest form of consumer protection,” ensuring that electricity rates remain fair, competitive, and transparent.

“In this new era, the role of the ERC is not diminished—it is transformed. Its mandate is clearer and more critical than ever: to be the guardian of the competitive process and the guarantor of its integrity,” Juan said.

He emphasized that the ERC’s reforms aim to strike a balance between protecting consumers and sustaining investor participation, both essential to keeping electricity rates reasonable.

Industry stakeholders have expressed support for the initiatives, particularly the adoption of summary proceedings and the elimination of regulatory backlogs that have slowed down power projects.