(NAR) VOL. 29 NO. 2/ APRIL - JUNE 18
(SGD) AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO | |
(SGD) ALFREDO J. NON Commissioner | (SGD) GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC Commissioner |
(SGD) JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Commissioner | (SGD) GERONIMO D. STA. ANA Commissioner |
a. To provide supplementary procedures on the customer switching method and ensure its effective implementation;Section 2. Scope
b. To ensure the efficient and timely exchange of information between and among
competitive retail market participants; and
c. To provide applicable billing procedures and disconnection process for contestable customers.
a. Contestable Market;Section 3. Definition of Terms
b. Retail Electricity Suppliers (RES’);
c. Distribution Utilities (DUs);
d. Suppliers of Last Resort (SOLRs);
e. The Central Registration Body (CRB); and,
f. All other relevant industry participants.
a. No Contestable Customer shall be allowed to Switch or be supplied by a new RES or SOLR should it have an outstanding balance with its Network Service Provider, in case of initial switch, or its incumbent RES. Whether under dispute or not, the Contestable Customer shall be required to settle its outstanding balance prior to Switching. For purposes of these Rules, outstanding balance shall refer to the amount due under previous unpaid bills including the amount indicated in its current bill.Section 2. The DU shall be the default meter service provider for the retail market until such time that the ERC determines the provision of metering services at the retail level to be competitive. For purposes of these Rules, meter service shall include procurement of meter for a Contestable Customer, meter installation, maintenance, repair, calibration with the supervision of ERC, meter reading, including data dissemination to the CRB.
Should the payment of a security deposit be required as stated in the RSC, the Contestable Customer shall pay the corresponding deposit to the new RES upon receipt of a Switch approval from the RES.
b. A Contestable Customer which is about to Switch to another RES, and which has been required to put up a cash security deposit by its incumbent RES shall be entitled to the refund of the said amount plus the applicable interest earned (interest earnings net of tax of the amount in escrow) less outstanding balance. The concerned RES shall refund the amount to the Contestable Customer within thirty (30) days from effective Switch.
c. A Contestable Customer which is about to migrate to the CREM, shall be entitled to the refund of the security or bill deposit from its DU in accordance with Section 3.4.2, Article III of the DSOAR.
3.1 The RES’ bills shall be in clear and simple language, and shall, among others, contain the following:a. RES’ customer service address, email and telephone number;3.2 The RES’ bills shall also contain sufficient information to allow Contestable Customers the ability to calculate their charges, such as but not limited to: the kWh usage for the indicated billing period, the billing date (due date), remaining balance and payments applied.
b. Address, telephone number and email addresses of the Consumer Affairs Service of the ERC; and
c. Network service provider's customer service and emergency telephone numbers.
3.3 If optional services (added-value services) are provided, the associated charges shall be itemized separately on the Contestable Customer’s bill.
3.4 Should a contestable customer opt to change its billing scheme, the following provisions shall apply:
Section 4. Single Billing Schemea. A Contestable Customer shall send a request for a change in billing to its incumbent RES to the chosen billing option, at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the intended billing period covered;
b. The RES shall send the request for a change in billing to the Network Service Provider within twenty four (24) hours from receipt of request from the Contestable Customer. However, such request should have been received by the Network Service Provider at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled meter reading date;
c. The Network Service Provider shall provide a response for change in billing to the RES within forty eight (48) hours indicating acceptance thereof and the effective date of the change in billing option;
d. The RES shall notify the Contestable Customer within twenty four (24) hours from receipt of response for change in billing.
4.1 The Contestable Customer shall receive one consolidated bill from the RES reflecting all charges including the approved wheeling charges, described in Section 4.2 hereof, from the Network Service Provider.Section 5. Dual/Multiple Billing Scheme
4.2 The bill by the RES to Contestable Customer shall contain the following:
RES ChargesGeneration ChargeTotal RES Charges
Supplier’s Charge
Government Taxes
WESM Net Settlement Surplus (NSS) Allocation, if applicable
Distribution Wheeling Service (DWS) ChargesTransmission Charge
Distribution Charge
Standard Connection Charge
Supply Charge
Metering Charge System Loss Charge Local Franchise Tax Senior Citizen Discount Lifeline Rate Subsidy Value-Added Tax (VAT) Universal Charge
FIT-ALL Charge
Arrears, if any; and
Other Charges and Adjustments approved by the ERC.
Total DWS ChargesTOTAL ELECTRICITY BILL4.3 Payment Processing and Remittance for Single Billing Scheme
The RES merely acts as a collecting agent for the DWS charges in behalf of the Network Service Provider and shall be responsible for settling said charges for the latter. Such DWS charges are pass-through charges by the DU, NGCP/TransCo and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation, and other government entities, based on rates previously approved by the ERC.
These charges include the transmission for NGCP, universal charge for PSALM, taxes, and other adjustments in behalf of the Network Service Providers.a. The RES or multiple RES shall supply the entire requirements of the Contestable Customer subject to the pricing methodology specified in their RSCs, and the RES, or Primary RES in case of multiple RES, shall pay all amounts due to the Network Service Providers within the timeframe specified in their DWSA to avoid disconnection of service.
b. The RES may impose late payment charges on the Contestable Customer for unpaid amounts: Provided, that the terms of the late payment charges are stated in the RSC and previously disclosed to the Contestable Customer.
The RES shall pay wheeling service payments to the Network Service Provider within the timeframe specified in their billing agreement by use of electronic funds transfer, bank-to-bank transfers, or any other means agreed upon by both parties.
c. Should payment by the Contestable Customer be made through check and the same is returned for any reason, the RES or SOLR may charge the Contestable Customer for the return fee and any reasonable administrative fee, in addition to late payment charges.
d. Should the RES fail to pay to the Network Service Provider the DWS Charges within the timeframe specified in its billing agreement, the RES shall pay interest on the un-paid amount. The Network Service Provider shall calculate the late payment charges provided under Section 4.8.3, Article IV of the DSOAR, or based on the approved surcharge by the ERC, whichever is applicable, from the date the payment was due to be received by the Network Service Provider.
The payment of late payment charges is in addition to, and not in lieu of, the rights and remedies otherwise available to the parties.
5.1 The Network Service Provider, RES and/or WESM, if applicable, shall render separate bills directly to the Contestable Customer. The Contestable Customer shall pay the Network Service Provider and the RES and/or WESM separately within the timeframe specified in their respective RSCs, wheeling agreement and applicable rules.
5.2 The Contestable Customer shall have the responsibility to: (1) contract with the RES/multiple RES and/or procure from WESM for its electricity requirements; (2) contract directly with the Network Service Providers for the wheeling agreement; and (3) submit the Switching requirements to the CRB.
The DWSA pro-forma contract to be adopted by the DU and the Contestable
Customer is hereto attached as Annex “B”.
5.3 A Contestable Customer under the Dual/Multiple Billing scheme shall receive a bill from the RES containing, at least the following:RES Charges5.3 Payment Processing and Remittance for Dual/Multiple Billing Scheme
Generation Charge
Supplier’s Charge
Government Taxes
WESM Net Settlement Surplus (NSS) Allocation, if applicable
TOTAL RES CHARGES
a. The Contestable Customer shall send wheeling service payments directly to the
Network Service Provider, and electricity payments directly to the RES, within the
timeframe specified in their billing agreement by use of electronic funds transfer, bank-to-bank transfers, or any other means agreed upon by both parties.
b. Should the Contestable Customer fail to pay the Network Service Provider, said Contestable Customer shall be liable for payment of the applicable surcharge. The Network Service Provider shall calculate the late payment charges based on the previously approved surcharge by the ERC for late payments, or calculated provided in Section 4.8.3, Article IV of the DSOAR, whichever is applicable, from the date the payment was due to be received by the Network Service Provider.
The payment of late payment charges is in addition to, and not in lieu of, the rights and remedies otherwise available to the parties.
1.1 The outstanding amount due and demanded was settled prior to the scheduled disconnection date. The requesting party that filed for disconnection should have immediately informed the Network Service Provider of the settlement/payment of the outstanding amount to defer the execution of such disconnection.Section 2. The disconnected Contestable Customer and/or RES shall continue to be liable for any and all of its outstanding obligations and liabilities under the DSOAR, OATS Rules, WESM Rules and all other existing contracts.
If at the time the disconnection is to be made, the RES or the Contestable Customer tenders full payment of the outstanding balance to the Network Service Provider or the Contestable Customer tenders full payment to the RES, the Network Service Provider shall desist from disconnecting the service. Provided, however, That the RES or the Contestable Customer can only invoke this provision once for the same unpaid bill.
1.2 Recalled notice of disconnection by the requesting party as a result of a special payment agreement or restructuring agreement entered into by the contracting parties prior to the scheduled disconnection date. The requesting party should have immediately informed the RES of the recall for the Network Service Provider to defer the execution of such disconnection.
1.3 Recalled notice of disconnection by the requesting party for any valid reason not stated above.
3.1 The RES or the Primary RES requesting for a reconnection of its Contestable Customer shall submit its notice of reconnection to the Network Service Provider for the execution of the request for reconnection. In the case the Contestable Customer default from its payment obligations to the Network Service Provider or WESM, then the Network Service Provider or the WESM should' initiate reconnection once the default has been remedied.
3.2 The Network Service Provider shall execute the reconnection of service, within twenty four (24) hours from receipt of the notice of reconnection from the RES.
3.3 In the case of the disconnected Contestable Customer wherein its disconnection was requested by multiple suppliers, the reconnection will only be executed when the Primary RES has issued the notice of reconnection to the Network Service Provider.Section 4. The procedures for disconnection, deferment of disconnection and reconnection of Contestable Customers shall also be governed by the Network Service Providers' existing rules, DOE and ERC relevant issuances.
3.4 If the electricity supply was disconnected due to non-payment of bills or security deposit, the reconnection shall be restored within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of payment from the Contestable Customer.
3.5 Across instances, a reconnection fee shall be paid by the disconnected Contestable Customer to either the RES or to the Network Service Provider prior to reconnection.
1.1 In case of emergencies affecting the operation of the B2B System or CRSS, the CRB shall inform the ERC, NGCP, MSP, affected DUs and RES, by email and/or through publication in the website, of the situation within one (1) hour from its occurrence.1.2 During such situation, transactions will be done through electronic mail or other technology. The B2B System or CRSS transaction timeframes, however, shall still be complied with.
2.1 In case of data discrepancies (e.g. meter reading, billing errors, customer information), data from the Network Service Provider/MSP shall be used temporarily while the discrepancy is being investigated by the ERC.Section 3. Dispute Resolution
2.2 Disputes on data discrepancy shall be resolved through the dispute resolution process of the ERC.
3.1 Any dispute or complaint arising from the switching processes contained in these Rules, and such other procedures necessary to facilitate the Switching process, shall be resolved through the dispute resolution process of the ERC.Section 4. B2B System or CRSS Transaction Timeframes
4.1 Requests, notices, responses to notices or requests, and data sent or received by a concerned entity before 3:00 P.M. on a Business Day shall be received on that Business Day. Otherwise, it shall be deemed to have been received on the first working hour on the next Business Day.
a. List of contestable customers’ name;Section 2. All DUs including NGCP shall submit a monthly report to the ERC, every 15th day following the month subject matter of the report, and without need of further notice, information on end-users with: 1) average monthly peak demand of at least 1MW for the preceding 12 months; 2) average monthly peak demand of 750kW to 999kW; and 3) average monthly peak demand of 500kW to 749kW, including but not limited to the following:
b. Meter number;
c. Monthly registered demand (in kW); and d. Monthly metered quantity (in kWh).
a. Customer name;Section 3. Each RES shall submit a quarterly report every 15th day of the subsequent month after the quarter, without need of further notice, providing the following information:
b. Billing and service addresses;
c. Customer’s account number;
d. Meter number;
e. The most recent twelve (12) months of historical usage, i.e. monthly registered peak demand (in kW) and monthly total registered energy consumption (in kWh); and
f. Customer information such as telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, subject to agreement on confidentiality.
a. List of contestable customers;Section 4. Other information that the ERC deems necessary or useful in carrying out its duties and obligations.
b. Total kilowatt-hour sales to contestable customers;
c. Total revenues from kilowatt-hour sales to contestable customers; and d. Period of contract for each contestable customer.
(SGD) ALFREDO J. NON Commissioner | (SGD) GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC Commissioner |
(SGD) JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Commissioner | (SGD) GERONIMO D. STA. ANA Commissioner |