Page 1 - CentRE agenda for power reforms.cdr

Energizing Change Through Renewable Energy
The CentRE’s Agenda for Reforms in the Power Sector

We, from various movements and sectors united around renewable energy, offer this Agenda for
consideration of the government and other stakeholders in the power industry. We stand side-by-side with
the millions of Filipinos who are electric power end-users – and millions more who do not enjoy electricity
at home – in calling for change in the power sector.

This Agenda is grounded on the need to address problems such as climate crisis, high prices of
electricity, growing reliance on fossil fuel, weak regulation, inefficient service delivery, and disregard for
consumer welfare.

We share the frustration of many electricity consumers with the outright failures and slow pace of
reforms in the power industry under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 and even
under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. Yet we remain confident that a more incisive and organized
push for reforms in the industry from a broad assembly of organizations that are advocating renewable
energy and democracy can make this advocacy for change possible.

Finally, we believe that only a power system based on renewable energy – with emphasis on
developing smart grid and off-grid systems operating through more decentralized structures – can
energize our dream of social justice and equity, sustainability, and local empowerment.

It is in this context that we propose the following reforms in the power industry to ensure its just
transition to renewable energy and democracy:

A. Removing barriers and providing incentives to RE’s full development

RE capacity is building up, but share of coal in the energy mix is growing faster. The government can
reverse the trend of RE’s shrinking share in the total energy mix and instead raise the RE’s share in energy
generation (in MWh). This can be done by:

 Adopting a policy of 100 per cent renewable energy for all new capacity to meet energy demand
today and in the future. We believe this is doable. This means that the government should no longer
entertain new applications for coal supply contracts.

 Preparing decommissioning plans for coal and oil plants, starting from the oldest and highly
inefficient ones. Consequently, this translates to additional RE capacity to match the retired
capacity.

 A national framework and plan, therefore, on cutting down the country’s dependence on fossil fuel
must be approved and carried out by the government in compliance with our international
commitments.

The government must also look at how policies and incentives can play the role in mainstreaming
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renewable energy use. Some ways forward include:

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