# DC2013-07-0014 — Retail Market Manuals for RCOA ## Department Circular No. DC2013-07-0014 **Promulgating the Retail Market Manuals for the Implementation of Retail Competition and Open Access and Providing for Transitory Arrangements** Signed: July 2013 by DOE Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla Effectivity: Immediately following publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation --- ## MAIN CIRCULAR TEXT **Whereas recitals:** 1. Section 37 of RA 9136 mandates DOE to supervise power sector restructuring and formulate implementing rules. 2. ERC Resolution No. 10 Series of 2011 (6 June 2011) certified that the five (5) RCOA pre-conditions under EPIRA Section 31 had been met. 3. DOE issued prescribed policies through DC2012-05-0005 (9 May 2012) and DC2012-11-0010 (28 November 2012). 4. ERC promulgated "Transitory Rules for the Initial Implementation of Open Access and Retail Competition" (17 December 2012). 5. DOE promulgated the Retail Rules through DC2013-01-0002 (9 January 2013). 6. Pursuant to the Retail Rules, the Central Registration Body (CRB) drafted four Market Manuals covering: - Registration of participants; - Market transactions procedures; - Disclosure and confidentiality of Contestable Customer information; and - Metering standards and procedures. 7. Draft manuals published on the DOE website 1-8 February 2013; comments received from: Distribution Management Committee, MERALCO, Retail Electricity Suppliers Association of the Philippines, Batangas Electric Cooperative II, Inc., MPower, Kratos RES, NGCP, NPC, Philippine National Bank, Aichi Forging Company. **NOW THEREFORE:** **Section 1. Approval and Adoption of Market Manuals.** The following Manuals (presented as Annexes) are hereby approved and adopted: - Annex A — Retail Manual on Registration Criteria and Procedures - Annex B — Retail Manual on Market Transactions Procedures - Annex C — Retail Manual on Disclosure and Confidentiality of Contestable Customer Information - Annex D — Retail Manual on Metering Standards and Procedures **Section 2. Transitory Provision.** (a) Contestable Customers that applied for registration or whose applications were submitted prior to the RCOA Commencement Date of **26 June 2013** but were unable to submit Retail Supply Contracts, Load Profile, or Distribution Wheeling and Metering Services Agreement by that date shall be registered by the CRB — provided such requirements are completed within **ninety (90) days** from promulgation of this Circular. Non-compliant CCs shall be suspended under the Retail Rules and Retail Manual on Registration. (b) Retail Metering Services Providers shall submit metering data to the CRB on the following trading day. In cases of incomplete or erroneous metering data, providers have **three (3) days** after the end of the relevant billing period to submit corrected data — but this grace period applies **only for the first three (3) billing periods** from the Commencement Date. Thereafter, strict compliance with metering data submission timelines is required. (c) Bilateral contract quantities in favor of Contestable Customers for WESM settlement may be reviewed and corrected within **three (3) days** from the end of each billing period — but only during the **first three (3) billing periods** from the Commencement Date. Thereafter, all Trading Participants must strictly comply with bilateral contract declaration timelines. **Section 3. Separability Clause.** **Section 4. Effectivity.** Immediately following publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. --- ## ANNEX A SUMMARY — Registration Criteria and Procedures Prepared by the CRB (PEMC) pursuant to Clause 2.5 of the Retail Rules. Covers: - Registration requirements for Contestable Customers, Suppliers, and Retail Metering Service Providers in WESM - Three chapters: (I) Introduction and General Guidelines; (II) Registration Procedures; (III) Suspension, Disconnection and De-Registration - References: RA 9136, IRR, ERC Transitory Rules, WESM Rules, Retail Rules, Philippine Grid Code, Philippine Distribution Code, DC2010-05-006, DC2010-08-0010, DC2012-011-0010, DC2013-01-0002 --- ## ANNEX B SUMMARY — Market Transactions Procedures Prepared by CRB pursuant to Clause 3.2.6 of the Retail Rules. Covers procedures for: - **Customer Switching** — transfer of CC from one Supplier to another via CRB - **Customer Relocation** — CC moves to a new connection point within or across DU franchises - **Termination of Retail Supply Contracts** - **Transfer to Supplier of Last Resort (SOLR)** **Key switching rules:** - Switch Request submitted by new Supplier to CRB **not later than 30 working days** before the proposed effective date - Required documents: Switch Request Form, copy of Retail Supply Contract, copy of valid Wheeling Service Agreement, copy of valid Metering Services Agreement - CRB initial assessment (completeness check): **within 3 working days** of receipt - Incomplete applications: Supplier has **10 working days** to remedy; otherwise request is rejected - Switch takes effect **at start of a billing period** — except SOLR-to-Supplier transfers which may take effect within a billing period - **No switching during Initial Commercial Operations period** (first 6 months from 26 June 2013): switches during this period effective only after end of Initial Commercial Operations; switch requests for post-ICO dates must be submitted at least 30 days before end of ICO --- ## ANNEX C SUMMARY — Disclosure and Confidentiality of Contestable Customer Information Prepared by CRB pursuant to Clause 2.3.2.3 of the Retail Rules. Only 3 pages. Covers: - Types of CC information that may be disclosed and procedures for requesting such information - Applies WESM Manual on Market Operator Information Disclosure and Confidentiality standards - CC data disclosed only to authorized parties for purposes of market administration --- ## ANNEX D SUMMARY — Metering Standards and Procedures Prepared by CRB. 46 pages of detailed technical standards covering: - Metering installation standards (redundancy requirements, meter technical specs, communication links) - Instrument Transformer standards (accuracy, ratios, safety, grounding, primary/secondary connections) - Security of metering installations and data - Redundant Metering Installation requirements - Site Equipment Identification Number (SEIN) — basis, assignment conventions, meter box, modem, meter test switch