Tired of power delays and regulatory gridlocks? Consumers might finally catch a break.

Veteran energy lawyer Francis Saturnino Juan is taking over the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on 8 August — and he’s coming in charged up with a five-point game plan to reduce red tape, speed up approvals, and get electricity flowing more efficiently across the country.

Juan steps into the role following the departure of chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta, leaving him with big shoes to fill as he takes over the country’s top power regulator.

“I would like to thank the President for the trust and confidence placed in me to head the ERC, the agency tasked with promoting the interests of all electricity consumers,” Juan said in an interview. “I truly appreciate the opportunity and I look forward to contributing effectively.”

Known in the industry for his calm, calculated legal work, Juan is wasting no time plugging into the commission’s biggest challenges.

First on his to-do list: fix the lag in rate-setting reviews and streamline the approval of new power supply deals — especially those that have already passed through the Competitive Selection Process.

“With the end given streamlining and fast-tracking the approval process,” Juan said, the goal is to “ensure the timely entry of new generation capacities” that can keep up with surging electricity demand.

Power coops to get lifeline

He also wanted to provide a financial lifeline to struggling electric cooperatives by scrapping the one-size-fits-all “yardstick” rate model and allowing each one to apply for individual rate adjustments. That, he said, would allow them to “continue providing quality distribution services to their members-consumers.”

Other shock absorbers in his reform toolkit include allowing utilities like the NGCP to roll out their capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects after three months of waiting — without fear of penalties — if the ERC has not yet issued a decision.

And in a final bid to cut red tape, Juan is floating the idea that Certificate of Compliance (COC) applications with complete paperwork should be deemed approved if left untouched for 30 days.

“All these are my initial thoughts, to address the backlog at ERC, to streamline processes, to simplify requirements, and to come up with timely and sensible decisions and regulatory actions,” Juan said.

“All to promote consumer interests by ensuring more investments in additional capacities, both in generation and transmission/distribution sectors at competitive or well-regulated and reasonable tariffs.”

But he’s not flipping the switch alone. Juan emphasized that the ERC remains a collegial body and that every move will undergo consultation.

“I will consult the other members of the Commission about these proposals and together, we will consult all stakeholders and thereafter decide as one collegial body,” he said.

Juan, who helped set up the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, is known for his work on tariff reform and consumer protection.

Joining him at the ERC are newly appointed commissioners Amante Liberato and Paris Real.

Liberato is a lawyer and CPA who currently serves as deputy executive secretary for finance and administration. He previously worked at the Commission on Audit and held various roles in Congress.

Real is a seasoned litigator with over 20 years of experience and has been involved in ERC regulatory cases for more than a decade.

For now, consumers can expect a new kind of energy at the ERC, one that might just light a faster, fairer path forward.