NASECORE urges DOE to review CSP for fair competition

Consumer advocacy group NASECORE has urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to review its circular on the competitive selection process (CSP), which is used to select power suppliers.

NASECORE claims that the CSP mechanism has failed to promote transparency and fair competition, instead preserving the dominance of existing generation companies in Meralco's franchise area.

The group highlighted a recent decision by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approving a new rate of P6.7254/kWh for electricity, significantly higher than previous rates of around P4.0459/kWh.

NASECORE argues that this substantial increase in rates contradicts the CSP's original aim to ensure least-cost power supply procurement and proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the CSP policy involving multi-stakeholder review.

The group calls on DOE officer-in-charge Secretary Sharon Garin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for urgent reform to address high electricity costs due to anti-competitive practices.

Without reform, NASECORE warns that Filipino consumers will continue facing high electricity rates as the CSP mechanism has not delivered meaningful market competition in a decade.