The Department of Energy (DOE) said the proposed Mindoro-Batangas interconnection project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
DOE undersecretary Rowena Guevara told reporters in a briefing in Taguig City yesterday the transmission line interconnection is expected to improve power services as well as reduce by at least 20 percent the current Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UCME) collected from consumers connected to the national grid.
UCME, which is currently at P0.2233 per kilowatt hour, subsidizes the operations of Small Power Utilities Group plants located in islands and communities that are not connected to the main transmission grid.
Guevara said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines also agreed to fast track the completion of Batangas-Mindoro interconnection.
Based on current rules, if an area is connected to the main grid, it can no longer benefit from the UCME subsidy.
“Mindoro will be connected to Batangas as the latter has available substations and lines.
The area also has a big backbone to supply energy to Metro Manila which is the country’s load center,” Guevara said.
Guevara said there are plans to interconnect Palawan and Mindoro. – Jed Macapagal
