SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet (SNAP-Benguet) has been fined some P875,000 for the alleged breaching of allowable forced outages of the 34.85-megawatt Ambuklao hydroelectric power plant Unit 1 in March and April.
SNAP-Benguet, though still paying the fine in full, filed a motion for reconsideration over the administrative penalty meted out by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
In its motion, SNAP-Benguet said that revisions to its Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP), which led to the forced outages in the Ambuklao plant, were both explained via letter to the ERC, and approved by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
The revisions were made in expectation of changes to the availability of water as well as the need for earlier replacement of critical machinery parts.
As such, SNAP-Benguet insists that the Ambuklao plant did not exceed the maximum unplanned outage days allowed by the ERC.
The firm also cited Section 3.5 of Department of Energy (DOE) Department Circular 2020-02-0004, which states that “ “any amendment or change of schedule due to emergency situations of the Generating Facility shall be approved by NGCP and the DOE shall be notified accordingly.”
SNAP-Benguet claims that the memorandum allows the NGCP to amend GOMPs without having to go through the DOE.
“With due respect, we hope that the Honorable Commission reconsiders their decision in light of the evidence we have presented. We remain committed to cooperating with the ERC as we work to resolve this matter,” SNAP-Benguet Vice President for Corporate Affairs Mike Hosillos said in a statement.
