WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) mandates the Department of Energy (DOE) to, among others, ensure the reliability, quality and supply of electric power; ensure transparent and reasonable prices of electricity in a regime of free and a fair competition and full public accountability to achieve greater operational and economic efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of Philippine products in the global market; and protect the public interest as it is affected by the rates and services of electric utilities and other providers of electric power;