Asian Energy Advisors

Rant warning.

The frequency of typos coming out of the ERC and regurgitated by the main stream press journalists are a historical fact of life.  But it’s time to stop.

Are the Commissioner’s signatures so little valued that they will put it on just ANY document? (no snickering). I happen to know many of the journalists covering the energy beat are professionals - they too can do better.

This decision, published on their website last week, says the the Capacity Fee for the Ilijan BOT contracts is "S$7.25376/kWh/month."

That’s clearly a typo to me - but to others it can be very confusing. It’s supposed to be $7.25376/kW/month - a number, by the way,  that will even confuse industry experts as to what units are actually meant.  And Myrna Velasco regurgitates it as "$ 7.25376 per kilowatt-hour on a monthly basis." She too knows better if she stopped to think about it.

And the Order in the Decision includes these words:

Wherefore, the Power Purchase/Energy Conversion Agreement of the Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant Project (NATGAS) of the National Power Corporation (NPC) and Hydro Electric Development Corporation (HEDCOR) is hereby APPROVED …"

Hedcor? They’re not even reading this stuff.

Yeah, yeah they all know better. And we all just keep glossing over this stuff - but it’s so embarrassing for the sector, particularly to the outside world looking in.