No LOI Deadline to Miss: How to Switch to Open Access Anytime

There is no deadline to miss: RCOA is permanent

RCOA (Retail Competition and Open Access) is a permanent feature of the Philippine electricity market under EPIRA. It is not a one-time window with a deadline you can miss. Whether you are evaluating your options now or revisiting them later, you can begin the switching process at any time. On June 26, 2026, the contestability threshold drops from 500kW to 100kW, making many more businesses eligible to choose their own electricity supplier, and you do not have to wait until that date to prepare.

You can start months ahead with a Letter of Intent

You do not have to wait for the threshold change to take effect before acting. By submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) and beginning the process ahead of time, your business can be ready to switch as soon as it is eligible. Starting early simply means the coordination, metering, and documentation are already underway. There is no advantage to waiting, and no penalty for starting whenever you are ready.

The 90-day process: submit your LOI, switch about 90 days later

Once your Letter of Intent is accepted, the formal transition takes about 90 days. This covers metering coordination, regulatory processing, and the supply transition itself. The timeline is the same regardless of when you start, and your Retail Electricity Supplier manages each step on your behalf.

What to do now

Confirm your eligibility by checking your average monthly peak demand. Engage a licensed Retail Electricity Supplier who can assess your situation, explain your options, and prepare the documentation. Gather your recent electricity bills, business registration, and relevant facility details. Every month on your distribution utility's bundled rate is a month without visibility into your supply costs or the ability to manage your rate. The sooner you begin, the sooner you gain that transparency and control.