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DOE Releases Certification Guidelines for Energy Audit Conducted by Firms, Partnerships, Corporations, and Sole Proprietorships

The Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued Department Circular No. DC2022-04-0013 (“DC2022-04-0013”) or the ‘Adoption of Certification Guidelines for Energy Audit Conducted by Firm, Partnership, Corporation, and Sole Proprietorship (“FPCS”)’. The circular shall cover the assessment, registration, and certification of qualified FPCS which will conduct energy audit. An energy audit refers to the evaluation of energy consumption and review of current energy cost to determine appropriate intervention measures and efficiency projects in which energy can be judiciously and efficiently used to achieve savings. 

Under DC2022-04-013, the energy audit shall be conducted by a certified Energy Auditor to the following: (i) Designated Establishments (“DEs”) during their first year of report submission and every three (3) years; and (ii) Energy Efficiency (“EE”) Projects. In carrying out the energy audit, the Energy Auditor shall prepare and submit to both the client establishment and the DOE, along with other requirements based on the applicable provisions of MC2020-05-0001, DC2021-05-0011, and subsequent issuances under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, as well as its implementing rules, an energy audit report.

To obtain certification, the applicant FPCS must submit the following documents to the DOE:

  1. Duly accomplished FPCS Application Form;
  2. Certified true copies of the documents proving corporate/legal personality;
  3. Company profile/background;
  4. Company ownership/management;
  5. Curriculum vitae of Energy Auditors;
  6. Certified true copy of Professional Regulation Commission license of Energy Auditor;
  7. List of energy audit equipment and other similar testing instruments;
  8. Bank certificate to substantiate the cash balance indicated in the financial status; and
  9. Proof of payment of application fee for certification.

In relation to the application for certification, FPCS will undergo a financial evaluation taking into consideration the following criteria:

  1. Minimum working capital is 100% of the financial commitment for the first contract year of the proposed work program and budget;
  2. Liquid Assets shall consist only of cash, trade accounts receivables and short-term investments/placements. Credit line is not considered as a Liquid Asset; and
  3. The applicant’s available working capital for each energy efficiency project should be net of fund requirements from existing and/or pending applications for service/operating contracts with the DOE.

The certification shall be valid for three (3) years. Only FPCS registered with the DOE will be recommended to Des as experts for energy audit together with ESCOs and individually certified Energy Auditors. The DOE-Energy Utilization management Bureau shall develop and manage a centralized database that will provide the list of all recognized FPCS.

Registered or certified Energy Service Companies (“ESCO”) will no longer be required to register under this circular, provided the conduct of energy audit is included in the primary/secondary purpose/s or the main line of business as proven by the corporate/legal documents and that the registration/certification as an ESCO is still valid.

The performance of the following acts may subject the FPCS to penalties, revocation of its certification, or blacklisting of the FPCS:

  1. Willfully failing to submit to an on-site inspection;
  2. Willfully refusing to submit any of the reports required in DC2022-04-0013;
  3. Failure to provide accurate information or the provision of false or misleading information as required; and
  4. Failure to comply with issued orders of the DOE in the discharge of its enforcement powers.

For a complete copy of DC-2022-04-0013 along with its annexes, please refer to this page.