With a year left in the government’s self-imposed deadline to achieve total electrification of all households in the country, Senator Win Gatchalian said there’s still hope that it can still be realized once the bill which promotes the use of microgrid systems as a means to supply electric power in the rural areas is set in place.

• The Microgrid Systems Act is meant to further accelerate the total electrification of the country by allowing the private sector a clear avenue on how they can participate in the electrification in unserved and underserved areas;
• The Senate Energy Chairperson remains optimistic that the measure will see its ratification in both Houses of Congress before the adjournment of the 18th Congress considering the need to put an end to the decades-long problem of lack of access to electricity for those in the countryside;
• Under the bill, the microgrid systems providers (MGSPs) will be allowed to operate in any area where there is no electricity access or where the power connection does not provide 24/7 electricity supply.

Senate Bill No. 1928 or the proposed Microgrid Systems Act, approved on third and final reading Monday, September 13, is meant to further accelerate the total electrification of the country by allowing the private sector a clear avenue on how they can participate in the electrification in unserved and underserved areas.

“This bill is meant to address the legal gaps as well as policy gaps in terms of the nationwide total electrification program of the government. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) self-imposed 2022 deadline is fast approaching. It is a daunting task indeed but it can become significantly more feasible with the passage of this legislation,” he said.

“By 2022, hopefully, lahat ay mayroon nang kuryente sa kani-kanilang mga bahay dito sa bansa. This is a tall order considering that we are an archipelagic country and that’s why the committee sees it fit to use new technology and innovative technologies such as the microgrid and the use of private capital to reach total electrification by 2022,” Gatchalian added.

The Senate Energy Chairperson remains optimistic that the measure will see its ratification in both Houses of Congress before the adjournment of the 18th Congress considering the need to put an end to the decades-long problem of lack of access to electricity for those in the countryside.

A miniature-scale version of a large main grid, the microgrid systems are well-suited to electrify unserved and underserved areas in the absence of main grid connection or insufficiency of supply due to specific reasons related to quality of service, Gatchalian explained.

Underserved areas are those that do not enjoy 24-hour access to electricity due to various reasons while the unserved are those with no electricity access at all.

Under the bill, the microgrid systems providers (MGSPs) will be allowed to operate in any area where there is no electricity access or where the power connection does not provide 24/7 electricity supply.

“One of the goals of this bill is to clearly identify the processes and reduce red tape so that we employ and encourage the private sector to come in, use private capital and help the government to roll out its total electrification plan,” he said.