Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino Juan called for clear rules and stronger regulatory cooperation to build confidence in cross-border electricity trade.
Speaking at the 4th ASEAN Energy Regulatory Forum in Singapore, Juan stressed the need for clear rules on network access, charges, and responsibilities during supply interruptions to protect consumers, provide certainty for investors, and ensure reliable cross-border electricity trade as ASEAN integrates its power systems.
“Cooperation must build confidence in our rules, our transactions, and our institutions,” the ERC chief said.
“In the Philippines, the 100-kilowatt contestability threshold under Retail Competition and Open Access allows more consumers to choose their supplier.”
Drawing on the Philippine experience, he cited the 100-kilowatt contestability threshold under Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA), which allows more consumers to choose their supplier, and the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), which enables consumers to choose renewable energy. He also underscored the importance of credible tracking of renewable energy attributes in cross-border clean energy trade.
“The ASEAN School of Regulation is a platform for strengthening regulators’ capacity in power system integration and multilateral electricity trade.”
Juan further highlighted the ASEAN School of Regulation, launched in Manila on October 7, as a platform for strengthening regulators’ capacity in power system integration and multilateral electricity trade.
His other engagements in Singapore included serving as lead discussant at the Regulators@SIEW Lunch session on “Speed to Power and Regulatory Approaches for Accelerating Energy Buildout”. The session examined ways to bring new power facilities online faster, make better use of existing grids, and meet growing demand while maintaining affordability and reliability.
Meanwhile, Juan held separate bilateral meetings with Australian Energy Regulator Chair Clare Savage and New Zealand Electricity Authority Deputy Chair Erik Westergaard. The meetings covered electricity market regulation, battery energy storage, and supply reliability, with additional discussions on disaster resilience and demand response during the New Zealand meeting. Both meetings provided opportunities to exchange regulatory experiences in support of reliable and affordable electricity services.
The activities were held during the Singapore International Energy Week 2026 (SIEW 2026), which brought together regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss regional and global energy challenges under the theme “Connecting Energy Systems, Powering Tomorrow”.
