DC2015-03-0001 (Must Dispatch and Priority Dispatch Framework)
Department Circular No. DC2015-03-0001 “Promulgating the Framework for the Implementation of Must Dispatch and Priority Dispatch of Renewable Energy Resources in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market” Issued: March 20, 2015 Secretary: Carlos Jericho L. Petilla
Document Type
6-page framework circular. OCR extracted; cleaned version at raw/regulations/dc2015-03-0001.md.
Key Provisions
| Section | Provision |
|---|---|
| §4(a) | Must Dispatch: qualified intermittent RE plants (wind, solar, run-of-river hydro, ocean energy) — dispatched by preference whenever generation is available; statutory basis: RE Act §20 |
| §4(b) | Priority Dispatch: FIT-eligible biomass plants — given preference in dispatch schedule; statutory basis: RE Act §7 |
| §5 | Qualification: DOE certification + ERC Certificate of Compliance (COC) required for WESM registration |
| §6 | PEMC responsibilities: amend WESM Rules, formulate registration procedures, monitor forecast accuracy, conduct IEC campaigns |
| §7 | NGCP responsibilities: determine maximum penetration limits; ensure maximum dispatch subject to operating reserves; produce RE aggregated generation forecast; operate in free active power control mode; submit active power instruction reports; incorporate grid upgrades in TDP |
| §8 | DU responsibilities: upgrade distribution facilities; give embedded RE plants priority to inject |
| §10 | 5-tier dispatch hierarchy: Pmin → Must Dispatch → Priority Dispatch → Non-scheduled → Scheduled; constrained corridor: commissioning units first, then pro-rated by transmission capacity + Day-Ahead forecast |
| §11 | PEMC and NGCP to submit Interim Protocol for wind dispatch prioritization within 10 days of effectivity |
| §14 | Retroactive effect: guidelines retroact to RE Act effectivity (June 2008) |
Significance
DC2015-03-0001 is the foundational document for preferential dispatch of RE in the Philippine WESM, fulfilling the mandate of RA 9513 §20. It introduced the definitive legal distinction between Must Dispatch (intermittent RE — not controllable) and Priority Dispatch (FIT biomass — controllable but preferred). The 5-tier hierarchy and constrained corridor pro-rating rules remain the operative framework, later extended by DC2022-10-0031 to cover all RE technologies.
Wiki Target
- Updated: Preferential Dispatch (RE in WESM) — added “Original Framework (DC2015-03-0001)” section with hierarchy table, NGCP penetration limit duty, interim protocol, retroactive effect
Full text: Cleaned copy