Cusi assures enough power supply; rotational brownouts due to plant breakdowns

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOHN PAUL R. AUTOR

MANILA, Philippines — Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Wednesday assured that there is still enough power supply in the country amid power interruptions being implemented.

Cusi said the rotational power interruptions being experienced are due to plant breakdowns, which result in the loss of about 1,600 megawatts in the power supply.

“Mayroon talagang enough power supply [There is really enough power supply] but unfortunately there are unforeseen breakdowns,” he said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

Among the reasons seen behind the plant breakdowns, Cusi said, is the extended maintenance of the facilities due to the pandemic.

“May mga planta na dapat mag-maintain last year, pero hindi sila nakapag-implement ng plant maintenance dahil sa kakulungan ng pagdating ng spare parts at saka ‘yung mga delay in technical people,” he said.

(There are plants that should have implemented plant maintenance last year but weren’t able to do so due to the delay in the arrival of spare parts and technical people.)

He said the Department of Energy as well as the Philippine Competition Commission and the Energy Regulatory Commission are already looking into the incidents to “give appropriate action against people who are found to have lapses in their responsibility.”

The Luzon Grid, including Metro Manila, will be under red alert for 13 hours this Wednesday, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) earlier said.

Cusi said the red alert status is going to be longer on Wednesday since demand is higher compared to other days.

JPV