The Energy Regulatory Commission has suspended collection of the green energy auction allowance for two months to ease pressure on electricity bills nationwide. The suspension covers the rate of P0.0371 per kilowatt-hour for May and June bills.
The Energy Regulatory Commission announced the temporary halt in an advisory issued the previous day. The move applies to all consumers and covers collection agents such as power utilities, retail electricity suppliers, and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.
The green energy auction allowance supports renewable projects including hydropower, biomass, solar, and wind facilities. ERC chairman Francis Saturnino Juan said the suspension balances support for cleaner energy with relief for households facing rising prices and global uncertainties.
The fund held a balance of about P466.49 million as of May 5, which the regulator determined was enough to meet payment needs for renewable developers during the period. The suspension follows an earlier ERC approval for the National Transmission Corp. to collect an additional P5.7 billion for the same fund.