Power supply in Luzon normal for now, says Cusi

Alfonso Cusi

MANILA, Philippines — The power supply in Luzon is normal on Thursday, with supply sufficient for the demand, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

This is after Luzon experienced rotational power interruptions due to thinning energy supply, with the region even being placed under red alert for 13 hours on Wednesday.

“Normal na ang supply ng kuryente for today. Ang supply is more than sufficient to meet the projected demand today,” Cusi said in a Palace briefing on Thursday.

(The supply for power is normal for today. The supply is more than sufficient to meet the projected demand today.)

Cusi said the projected demand for Thursday is about 10,300 megawatts while the supply is about 11,600 megawatts.

The deficiency in power supply stemmed from the breakdown of four power plants, Cusi explained, resulting in a loss of 2,017 megawatts.

He also explained that as of Thursday, there are still 1,372 megawatts that are still lost to the Luzon power grid as power firms still struggle to fix the four plants that broke down.

“Mayroon pa rin tayong around 1,372 megawatts capacity na apat na planta still down. ‘Yun ang tinututukan natin kung paano maibabalik agad sa serbisyo,” the Energy chief said.

(There is still 1,372 MW capacity still lost from the four power plants which are still down. That is what we’re focusing on to bring back the service.)

Cusi added that the Department of Energy, with the help of the Philippine Competition Commission and the Energy Regulatory Commission, is probing allegations of sabotage behind the power shutdowns.

/MUF