No LOI Deadline to Miss: How to Switch to Open Access Anytime
Walang LOI Deadline na Dapat Ikabahala: Paano Lumipat sa Open Access Anumang Oras
RCOA is a permanent program, so there is no LOI deadline to miss. You can submit your Letter of Intent and start the roughly 90-day switching process anytime, even ahead of the June 26, 2026 threshold change.
Table of Contents▾
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an LOI deadline I can miss?▾
When is the earliest I can switch?▾
Do I have to wait until June 26, 2026?▾
See how the process works
From eligibility assessment to ongoing management — here is what switching looks like.
How it works →Related Articles

Global Comfort Group Corporation’s Iconic Hotels, Malls Shift to Mabuhay Energy
Our goal is not only to generate savings but to provide better services to our customers. And, of course, with a very significant decrease in our electricity costs, we can provide competitive rates to our guests. Because as you know, currently, most equipment and facilities in hospitality rely on electricity," Manalo noted, emphasizing that the savings directly help maintain stable pricing for their hospitality and residential consumers despite rising market pressures.
Read more →Switching Electricity Suppliers: Documents Needed & What’s in a Retail Supply Contract
The documents you need to switch to a Retail Electricity Supplier (RES) under RCOA, what is inside a Retail Supply Contract, how long the switch takes, and your 5-business-day cooling-off rights.
Read more →
STI College Rewrites Its Energy Future with Mabuhay Energy
STI College Sta. Rosa switches to Mabuhay Energy under RCOA, gaining customized energy supply and the savings to reinvest into academic programs.
Read more →