DOE announces schedule of possible power interruptions in Luzon
Rotational brownouts may be experienced after the Luzon grid was placed under red alert due to high power demand amid high temperature.
MANILA, Philippines — Power interruptions in parts of Luzon may take place between the hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday.
DOE Undersecretary and spokesperson Felix William Fuentebella noted that power interruptions may happen as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines earlier placed the Luzon grid on red alert.
“Masama ang lagay ng ating grid sa Luzon dahil meron tayong na-experience ng red alert. Ibig sabihin merong power interruption. Anong oras ‘yan pwede mangyari? Alas onse ng umaga hanggang alas singko ng gabi, at meron pang alas siyete hanggang alas diyes ng gabi,” he told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(The situation of the Luzon grid is bad because we experienced a red alert. This means there is power interruption. When can this happen? From 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.)
Fuentebella said power interruptions happen because of power plants that became non-operational and the high demand for electricity amid high temperatures.
According to Fuentabella, the DOE has already informed Cabinet officials of the possible shortage in electricity supply as early as the last week of March and raised the need for enforcement of regulations for power players.
“Sinabi natin na pwedeng nagkakaroon ng enforcement issues sa mga power players dahil may mga paraan kung paano maiwasan ang problema natin ng kakulangan ng supply, ngunit mayroong ding mga hindi sumusunod. Kaya sabi natin, we need more enforcement,” he said.
(We said there could be enforcement issues among power players. There are ways to prevent the problem of shortage of energy supply, but there are power players that do not follow these. That’s why we said we need more enforcement.)
He said that the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Philippine Competition Commission and the Department of Justice should step in the issue.
Fuentabella also noted that the NGCP’s compliance with its obligation to provide sufficient levels of ancillary services or power reserves will greatly help in the situation. He added that distribution utilities should also forecast the expected increase in demand for electricity, and that power plants should be maintained properly to ensure that there will be no scheduled preventive maintenance.
