ERC approves NGCP ancillary agreements

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines' (NGCP) Ancillary Services Procurement Agreements (ASPAs) with five power generation companies to ensure stable electricity supply in their respective areas of operations.

ASPAs involve the provision of services necessary to maintain the operations of a transmission system, such as voltage regulation, reactive power support and frequency control.

These are crucial to maintaining the stability and reliability of the power grid.

The five companies include Giga Ace 4; Universal Power Solutions Inc. (UPSI)-San Manuel Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Lamao (Bataan), Concepcion (Tarlac), and Jasaan (Misamis Oriental); Masinloc Power Partners; Ingrid Power Holdings; and Therma Marine's Mobile 2 power unit.

Giga Ace 4 Inc. is a subsidiary of ACEN Corp., the Ayala group's listed energy platform.

UPSI and Masinloc Power Partners are both owned by San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp.

Ingrid Power Holding is a joint venture between ACEN and Axia Power Holdings.

Therma Marine is a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp.

Among the ERC officers who approved the resolutions were CEO Monalisa Dimalanta and Commissioners Catherine Maceda and Floresinda Baldo-Digal, while those who dissented were Commissioners Alexis Lumbatan and Marko Romeo Fuentes.