What is Retail Competition and Open Access?

Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) allows power suppliers to directly transact with any customer designated by the ERC as part of the contestable market. It also allows these contestable customers to decide which electricity suppliers to source power from. The establishment of RCOA is mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).

Who are the main players in RCOA?

• Retail Electricity Suppliers (RES) or power suppliers licensed by the ERC to sell electricity to the contestable market.
• Contestable Customers (CC) may be a corporation or business establishment and even households  whose average consumption during the last 12 months reached a minimum of 500 kW. 

How does the RCOA benefit contestable customers?

Being part of the contestable market allows customers to choose their own retail electricity supplier. This also allows them to pick clean and environment-friendly sources of electricity.