THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has handed down decisions on 500 pending applications for certificate of compliance (COC) and provisional authority (PA) involving contracts with generation facilities.

The ERC hopes to encourage more investments in the energy sector and thereby lower power rates in the country.

The agency said ERC officer-in-charge chairperson Jesse Hermogenes Andres, in his first commission meeting last Monday, approved the release of 414 COCs and 101 PAOs which are expected to boost the capacities of generation facilities and improve the reliability and supply of electricity.

PAOs are issued to entities to allow them to operate a power plant or other power generating facilities pending the issuance of a COC. PAOs are issued to enable a generation company to immediately operate its generation facility.

ERC said the decisions were made by Andres together with Commissioners Alexis Lumbatan, Catherine Maceda, Floresinda Baldo-Digal and Marko Romeo Fuentes.

The regulatory body also granted interim relief to Clark Electric Distribution Corp. and Shin Clark Power Corp., allowing them to implement their sale for resale agreement.

ERC said the decision granting the provisional authority will enhance the access of New Clark City, a developing industrial hub in the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga, to quality and reliable power service at affordable rates.

“There is an urgent need to expedite the evaluation and approval process of ERC so that rollout and expansion projects of private sector proponents can immediately be accomplished. This will expectedly increase capacities and efficiency in energy generation, transmission, distribution and supply sectors,” Andres said.