An Energy Efficiency and Conservation Law is a critical measure to economize the energy requirements of growth. The proposed legislation should incorporate policies and measures to develop local energy auditors and energy managers, develop the ESCO industry, encourage the development of energy-efficient technologies/ buildings and provide incentives for the effective promotion of efficiency initiatives in the energy market sector.
To achieve a reliable and secure supply of electric power
The government shall pursue the following strategies:
1. Diversify the country's power sources, especially in Mindanao, to address the susceptibility of hydro power plants to climate-change impacts;
2. Study alternative technologies in power generation;
3. Assess the vulnerability of energy facilities to climate change and natural disasters (e.g. E1 Niño and La Niña);
4. Conduct a comparative study of similar or related energy policies in the ASEAN;
5. Focus on demand aggregation and contracting from Electric Cooperatives;
6. Implement the Transmission Development Plan (TDP);
7. Revisit EPIRA and its IRR (e.g. the possibility of recommissioning of power plants under preservation, lifeline rates and cross subsidies among others; and
8. Establish triggers to allow government to build power plants in face of weak private sector interest.
To expand the government's electrification program
The following strategies shall be pursued:
1. Pursue higher household electrification. The government intends to achieve 90 percent household connection by 2017 through the expanded rural electrification program using RE Systems.
2. Rationalize the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UCME) rates approved by ERC in order to cover missionary electrification;
3. Engage LGU support for the missionary areas; and
4. Strengthen LGU capacity in power project development and in accessing available funds (i.e., ER 1-94).