The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), establish the detailed framework for implementing power sector reforms in the Philippines. The IRR sets out State policies, including total electrification, reliable and affordable electricity supply, transparent and competitive pricing, private sector participation, environmental compatibility, promotion of indigenous and renewable energy resources, and consumer protection. It defines the restructured industry segments—generation, transmission, distribution, and supply—and assigns mandates to the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Power Corporation (NPC), National Electrification Administration (NEA), and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM). The IRR prescribes rules for each sector, including certification and standards for generation companies, regulation of transmission as a common carrier, and obligations of distribution utilities to provide universal service, comply with technical codes, and unbundle activities and rates. It governs the licensing of suppliers, the establishment and operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), safeguards against anti-competitive practices, and the phased implementation of retail competition and open access. It also sets out ratemaking principles, including rate unbundling, removal of cross-subsidies, and application of a lifeline rate, and establishes the Universal Charge to recover stranded debts and fund missionary electrification, environmental programs, and other specified purposes.
Philippines · 2002-02-27