Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday expressed optimism that a joint task force between the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) will effectively address the alleged anti-competitive practices within the power sector and protect the interest of consumers.

“I am hoping that the collaboration itself would be a deterrent of anti-competitive practices and in the process, help establish market dynamics that would protect the interest of our consumers,” Gatchalian, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, said in a press statement.

Gatchalian pointed out that the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), which was enacted in 2001, regulates competition in the power industry, and prohibits participants in the electricity industry from engaging in any anti-competitive behavior including, but not limited to, cross-subsidization, price, or market manipulation, and imposes limits on ownership and control by related companies, of installed generating capacity.

However, he noted that even the ERC admitted difficulty in addressing anti-competitive issues hounding the industry, such as those involving industry players trading their generated capacities in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

“Inaasahan natin na ang pagtutulungan ng ERC at PCC ay magpapalakas sa kakayahan ng gobyerno na suriin ang mga kahinahinalang gawain sa industriya at ibayong maipatupad ang mga polisiya hinggil sa patas na kompetisyon para sa kapakinabangan ng mga konsyumer (We expect the partnership between the ERC and the PCC to strengthen the government’s ability to investigate dubious activities in the industry, and boost the implementation of policies on fair competition for the benefit of consumers),” Gatchalian said. (PNA)