Section 9. Functions and Responsibilities. —
Upon the effectivity of this Act, the TRANSCO shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
Act as the system operator of the nationwide electrical transmission and subtransmission system, to be transferred to it by NPC;
Provide open and non-discriminatory access to its transmission system to all electricity users;
Ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for the operation and maintenance of the grid, as set forth in a Grid Code to be adopted and promulgated by the ERC within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act;
Improve and expand its transmission facilities, consistent with the Grid Code and the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) to be promulgated pursuant to this Act, to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system: Provided, That TRANSCO shall submit any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities for approval by the ERC;
Subject to technical constraints, the grid operator of the TRANSCO shall provide central dispatch of all generation facilities connected, directly or indirectly, to the transmission system in accordance with the dispatch schedule submitted by the market operator, taking into account outstanding bilateral contracts; and
TRANSCO shall undertake the preparation of the TDP.
In the preparation of the TDP, TRANSCO shall consult the other participants of the electric power industry such as the generation companies, distribution utilities, and the electricity end-users. The TDP shall be submitted to the DOE for integration with the Power Development Program and the Philippine Energy Plan, provided for in Republic Act No. 7638 otherwise known as "the Department of Energy Act of 1992".
A generation company may develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities that are consistent with the TDP: Provided, That such facilities are required only for the purpose of connecting to the transmission system, and are used solely by the generating facility, subject to prior authorization by the ERC: Provided, further, That in the event that such assets are required for competitive purposes, ownership of the same shall be transferred to the TRANSCO at a fair market price: Provided, finally, That in case of disagreement on the fair market price, the ERC shall determine the fair market value of the asset.