Partners for Affordable & Reliable Energy , a group that advocates for pro-consumer solutions to address energy needs, said it welcomes the decision by the Energy Regulatory Commission to suspend trading in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market under certain conditions.
“This initiative by the ERC benefits consumers in certain ways as it prevents them from experiencing the immediate effects of unexpected price surges. This is a victory for consumers in light of the continued rising price of goods and services in the market today,” PARE chief advocate officer Nic Satur Jr. said.
“On the other hand, suspending trading in WESM under certain conditions could destabilize the energy market. This could lead to power generators and other market participants withholding supply due to the uncertainty created as a result of the ERC’s policy,” Satur said.PARE said long-term solutions should be implemented to increase the available power supply to meet consumer demand.