In its first Open Commission Meeting (CM) under the leadership of newly appointed Chairperson and CEO Francis Saturnino C. Juan, held on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, at the ERC Main Office, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) underscored its resolve to address every pending case, regardless of scale, and to take decisive steps to eliminate its longstanding backlog.
Streamed in real time on the ERC’s official website and social media platforms, Chairperson Juan, alongside Commissioners Floresinda Baldo G. Digal, Marko Romeo L. Fuentes, Amante A. Liberato, and Paris G. Real, outlined actionable steps to streamline internal processes and address longstanding case backlogs, some of which date back to the ERC’s inception in 2001.
One of the matters the Commission deliberated on during the CM was the status of pending cases before the ERC, which at present total around 5,000. These include the rate reset of private distribution utilities (DUs), implementation and resets under the Rules for Setting Electric Cooperatives’ Wheeling Rates (RSEC-WR), Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) applications, approvals of Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) including Emergency PSAs (EPSAs), applications for Point-to-Point (P2P) lines, dispute resolutions, rule-making, other rate-related cases, and unreleased Show Cause Orders (SCOs).
“Lahat ng kaso ay mahalaga: walang maliit, walang malaki.”
To address these, Chairperson Juan announced that each ERC Commissioner will serve as oversight head for specific Services to ensure that all cases are acted upon within the target timelines.
“The ERC means business. So, we, at the Commission, have assigned specific oversight responsibilities so that every case gets the attention it deserves. Lahat ng kaso ay mahalaga: walang maliit, walang malaki,” Chairperson Juan stressed.
Commissioner Digal also emphasized the need for the ERC to establish a “true-blue reconciled case inventory” in order for the new set of Commission members to move forward efficiently. “To get rid of most of the backlogs, we need to start with a very good inventory,” Commissioner Digal said.
Commissioner Real agreed that the case inventory must be reconciled and regularly updated. He likewise emphasized that the Commission should prioritize delayed cases filed during the time of the ERC’s predecessor, Energy Regulatory Board (ERB). “Justice delayed is justice denied, and we would be doing a disservice to our stakeholders, to our consumers, and all parties concerned if we are unable to speedily resolve the pending cases,” Commissioner Real added.
Meanwhile, to streamline communications, the Commission decided to discontinue posting Notices of Commission Action (NCAs) to avoid preempting Orders that might cause confusion among stakeholders. Instead, Chairperson Juan said the Commission will issue decisions on matters discussed in the CM within two weeks.
The ERC remains steadfast in its commitment to resolving pending cases efficiently and upholding the principles of fairness and transparency. With the new leadership’s proactive approach, the Commission is set to implement key measures that will address the case backlog and ensure timely resolutions moving forward.
