Retail Competition & Open Access · Philippines

Choose your
electricity supplier.
Save 5–15%.

Under the Philippines' Retail Competition and Open Access framework, qualified businesses can stop being captive customers of their distribution utility — and start negotiating directly with licensed Retail Electricity Suppliers. BridgePoint manages the entire switch on your behalf. Zero upfront cost.

Threshold Drop Imminent
From 500 kW100 kW
Effective June 26, 2026
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On June 26, 2026, the eligibility threshold drops, unlocking competition for approximately 12,115 newly eligible Philippine businesses. Mid-sized factories, hotels, hospitals, office buildings, and retail chains — businesses previously locked into utility rates — can finally choose their supplier.

What Is RCOA

From captive customer
to contestable customer.

For decades, Philippine businesses had no choice over their electricity supplier — they paid whatever their local distribution utility charged. RCOA changes that. Eligible businesses can now choose their own Retail Electricity Supplier (RES) and negotiate rates, contract terms, and renewable content.

Before RCOA

You're a captive customer

  • No choice over electricity supplier
  • Pay whatever the distribution utility charges
  • Generation charge passed through with no control
  • No ability to lock in fixed rates
  • No option for 100% renewable energy
  • Vulnerable to fuel price volatility
Under RCOA

You become contestable

  • Choose your own licensed RES partner
  • Negotiate rates and contract terms directly
  • Lock in fixed pricing for budget predictability
  • Opt for renewable energy through GEOP
  • Switch suppliers if a better offer comes
  • Use the same wires, meter, and reliability
How It Works

Three core mechanisms.
One open market.

RCOA isn't a single rule — it's a framework built on three regulated mechanisms that together create competition in the Philippine electricity retail market.

Retail Competition

The power to choose your electricity provider based on price, reliability, contract flexibility, and renewable content. Just like you choose your internet provider or telecom carrier.

Open Access

Non-discriminatory use of existing transmission and distribution wires. Your physical connection stays the same — only the contract and supplier change. No infrastructure work required.

Negotiated Rates

Customized supply contracts that fit your operational load profile — instead of one-size-fits-all utility tariffs. Lock in fixed rates, choose time-of-use pricing, or build hybrid structures.

The June 2026 Opportunity

A market about to open by 5×.

Under ERC Resolution No. 22, Series of 2025, the eligibility threshold drops from 500 kW to 100 kW on June 26, 2026 — bringing thousands of mid-sized enterprises into the contestable market for the first time.

100 kW
New eligibility threshold
12,115+
Newly eligible businesses
~₱250K
Monthly bill threshold
5–15%
Typical savings range
📅
Key Regulatory Timeline
Currently

500 kW threshold in effect

Only large industrials, big malls, and major factories are eligible to switch suppliers.

June 26, 2026

Threshold drops to 100 kW

Effective date of ERC Resolution No. 22 (Series of 2025). Newly eligible businesses can submit LOIs.

~Sep 2026

First switch dates for newly eligible

90-day minimum from LOI submission to actual switch. Earliest practical switch date for new entrants.

Ongoing

Continuous switching window

Once eligible, businesses can submit LOIs any time. Switch occurs ~90 days after submission.

Interactive Tool

Check your eligibility
in 30 seconds.

Tell us your monthly electricity demand or average bill, and we'll tell you whether your business qualifies — and which path makes sense.

⚡ Eligibility Check

Are you contestable?

Our tool uses ERC's current and upcoming demand thresholds to give you a quick answer — but every business is unique. A formal assessment confirms eligibility from your 12-month load history.

  • Instant preliminary result
  • No personal info required to check
  • Free formal assessment if eligible
  • Confidential — your data stays with BridgePoint
Quick Eligibility Check
Choose how you'd like to enter your consumption data:

Enter your average over the last 12 months. We use this to estimate your peak demand.

Savings Estimator

How much could you save?

Slide to your average monthly electricity bill. We'll show you an estimated annual savings range based on typical RES rates of 5–15% below default utility pricing.

Indicative Only

Your potential annual savings

Actual savings depend on your current utility rates, your RES contract, your load profile, and prevailing WESM prices. This is an indicative estimate, not a guarantee.

Your monthly electricity bill

₱ 500,000
₱ 100K ₱ 5M

Most newly-eligible businesses fall in the ₱250K – ₱1.5M range. Larger enterprises (factories, malls, hospitals) often range ₱2M – ₱5M+.

Estimated Annual Savings
Based on your monthly bill of ₱ 500,000:
₱ 300K – ₱ 900K

per year (range reflects 5%–15% savings)

Conservative scenario (5%) ₱ 300,000
Mid scenario (10%) ₱ 600,000
Aggressive scenario (15%) ₱ 900,000
5-year cumulative (mid) ₱ 3,000,000

⚠️ Important: Estimates exclude one-time switching admin fees (typically minimal) and assume comparable distribution charges. Actual savings determined only after formal load profile analysis and competitive RES quotation.

Get a Formal Assessment
Two Paths to Market

Direct RCOA or
Retail Aggregation.

Your demand level determines which path fits. Both unlock supplier choice and competitive rates — they just work differently.

Path 1 · For Larger Loads

Direct RCOA

For businesses whose individual peak demand meets the eligibility threshold. You contract directly with a licensed Retail Electricity Supplier as a contestable customer.

  • You qualify on your own — no aggregation needed
  • Direct negotiation with RES on rates, contract length, renewable content
  • Faster onboarding — typically 90 days from LOI to switch
  • Eligible for GEOP (100% renewable) if desired
Best for: Single-site factories, hospitals, hotels, large office buildings, malls, BPO sites with 100 kW+ demand (from June 26, 2026).
Path 2 · For Smaller / Multi-Site

Retail Aggregation Program (RAP)

For businesses whose individual demand is below the threshold but can pool with others in a contiguous area. A licensed Retail Aggregator combines your demand with similar users to meet eligibility.

  • Pool demand with other businesses, tenants, or branches
  • Ideal for condominiums, office condos, IT parks, retail chains
  • Collective bargaining for better rates than any one site alone
  • Managed by a licensed Retail Aggregator end-to-end
Best for: Condominium associations, office condos, IT parks, restaurant or retail chains with multiple branches under 100 kW each.
The Switching Process

From inquiry to activation.
Six steps. We handle each.

BridgePoint manages every step end-to-end. You provide bills and authorization — we do the rest.

01

Load Profile

12-month bill analysis & demand calculation

02

Savings Model

Preliminary RES rate comparison & projection

03

Eligibility

ERC validation & documentation preparation

04

RES RFP

Competitive vendor solicitation & negotiation

05

Contract

Retail Supply Contract signing & review

06

Switch

CRB registration. Savings begin.

Who Should Switch

If this sounds like you,
you're likely contestable.

From June 26, 2026, these are the businesses most likely to qualify — and to benefit. If your operation fits one of these profiles, you should be in the conversation.

🏭

Manufacturing & Light Industry

Factories with peak demand of 100–500 kW, monthly bills ₱250K–₱1.2M. Often facing rising input costs and looking to lock in fixed rates for budget predictability.

Direct RCOA
🏨

Hotels & Resorts

Mid-sized properties with 100+ rooms, demand 150–400 kW. High HVAC and laundry loads. Strong candidates for fixed-rate contracts to stabilize OpEx.

Direct RCOA
🏥

Hospitals & Healthcare

Mid-size hospitals with 100+ beds, demand often 200–500 kW. 24/7 operations make reliability critical — but the DU contract structure remains the same.

Direct RCOA
🏢

Office Buildings

Mid-rise commercial buildings with demand 100–300 kW. Common-area electricity costs flow to tenants — savings here directly improve building economics.

Direct RCOA
🛍️

Retail Chains

Restaurant or retail brands with multiple branches at 50–80 kW per site. Individually too small — but aggregated, they hit the threshold easily.

RAP — Aggregation
🏙️

Condominiums & Office Condos

Residential or office condominium associations with aggregated demand across units and common areas. Pool consumption to qualify collectively.

RAP — Aggregation
Green Energy Option Program

Want 100% renewable
electricity? You can have it.

The Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) is a subset of RCOA that allows eligible businesses to source their electricity exclusively from certified renewable suppliers — solar, wind, hydro, or biomass — while still capturing competitive rates.

  • 100% renewable energy mix — verified and certified
  • Supports your ESG, sustainability, and net-zero commitments
  • Same RCOA process — just a renewable-content RES contract
  • Helps multinational subsidiaries meet global parent mandates
  • No additional infrastructure or rooftop solar required
100%
Renewable Electricity
Through GEOP-certified RES, your business can be powered entirely by renewable sources without losing the rate competitiveness of the RCOA framework.
Frequently Asked Questions

The questions decision-makers
actually ask.

What is the minimum demand to qualify?
+
Effective June 26, 2026, the threshold is 100 kW average monthly peak demand over the preceding 12 months (under ERC Resolution No. 22, Series of 2025). Before that date, the threshold remains 500 kW. Below 100 kW, you may still qualify through the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP).
How do I calculate my average monthly peak demand?
+
Sum the peak demand (in kW) from your last 12 electricity bills, then divide by 12. Each bill typically shows "peak demand" or "maximum demand." If you can't find it, send us your bills — we'll calculate it for you at no cost.
Will my power be interrupted during the switch?
+
No. The switching process is administrative. Your physical connection to the distribution utility remains unchanged — same wires, same meter, same reliability. The only change is who supplies the electricity and who bills you.
How long does the switching process take?
+
From Letter of Intent (LOI) submission to actual switch date, the minimum is 90 days. This allows time for DU validation, metering assessment, and Central Registration Body (CRB) registration. BridgePoint manages timing on your behalf so the switch lands at the optimal point in your billing cycle.
Can I switch back to the distribution utility if I'm unhappy?
+
Yes. Your Retail Supply Contract (RSC) will specify terms for termination. You may also switch to another RES at any time, subject to contract terms. ERC rules generally protect contestable customers' right to choose.
Are there any fees to switch?
+
The DU may charge minimal administrative fees for metering or switching — these are disclosed upfront. BridgePoint and our partner RES do not charge upfront fees. BridgePoint earns from commissions tied to your verified savings; the RES earns from the supply contract.
What if my demand drops below 100 kW after switching?
+
Once you are a contestable customer, you generally remain contestable. ERC has provisions for customers whose demand falls below the threshold. We'll confirm this with your RES and DU at contracting.
Can residential customers participate?
+
Individual residential customers generally don't meet the 100 kW threshold. However, condominium associations can aggregate the demand of all units plus common areas through the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP) — collectively reaching eligibility.
What's the difference between RCOA and GEOP?
+
RCOA allows eligible customers to choose any licensed RES — renewable or conventional. GEOP (Green Energy Option Program) is a subset of RCOA that requires your RES to source from 100% renewable energy. Same process, just a renewable-content contract.
How does BridgePoint actually make money if there are no upfront fees?
+
We earn a commission from the partner RES based on your electricity consumption under the new contract — paid by the RES, not by you. This aligns our incentives with yours: we only succeed when you switch and start consuming under the new contract. There's no hidden markup on your electricity rate.
Get Your Free Assessment

Find out exactly
how much you can save.

Send us your information below. Within 48 hours, a BridgePoint consultant will reach out to confirm your eligibility, request your last 12 months of bills, and prepare a formal savings projection — at no cost or obligation.

  • Free preliminary assessment — no fees, no obligation
  • 48-hour response from a senior BridgePoint consultant
  • Confidential — your data stays within BridgePoint
  • You only proceed when the savings make sense
Request Assessment
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Thank you. We've got it.

A BridgePoint consultant will reach out within 48 hours to schedule your free assessment. Watch for an email from bridgepointbac@gmail.com.