The Department of Energy (DOE) will be conducting a Consultative Dialogue on the implementation of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001.

With the theme “Ensuring Security of Electricity Supply at a Reasonable Price,” the event will serve as the culminating activity of the previously-held Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) with various sectors across the country.  The dialogue will be held on the afternoon of 18 February 2014 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

“The outputs of the FGDs through this dialogue should reflect the unified voice of the Filipino people,” Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said. He added that the Consultative Dialogue signals the beginning of more collaboration with all stakeholders.

In this dialogue, each sector representative is expected to present and discuss its sector’s views and recommendations on how EPIRA and its implementation can be enhanced for the greater good of electricity end-users but at the same facilitate the entry of new investments particularly in power generation and supply.

Expected participants for the plenary session are the power generation companies, electricity suppliers, distribution utilities as well as representatives from the business sector, consumer sector, academe, labor groups, non-government organizations, and people’s organizations, officials from the DOE, its attached agencies as wells as representatives from the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and Energy Regulatory Commission.  All interested participants are encouraged to register beforehand with the DOE-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau at 840-1773 or 479-2900 local 264.

The DOE conducted an FGD for Luzon last month and similar discussions for Visayas and Mindanao earlier this month.

The EPIRA is designed to achieve transparency in electricity prices and services. The DOE notes that after almost thirteen years of the implementation of EPIRA, there have been significant reforms, however, there is still much to be done particularly in ensuring that the supply of electricity is available to meet the country’s future demand and in attaining greater competition and efficiency in the electric power industry.