Oil companies urged to use gensets on election day

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla on Friday called on oil companies to use their own generator sets for their operations at the gas stations, oil depots and similar facilities on Monday to ensure adequate power supply during the election.

Petilla explained that if the oil companies, particularly those located in Mindanao, would use their own gensets for a day on Monday, this would “lessen the demand and increase the available power to the grid.”

“Most gasoline stations nationwide are equipped with standby generators,” Petilla noted.

According to the energy chief, the call for the oil industry’s support to ensure sufficient power supply during the election was an “additional contingency measure.”

“The DOE (Department of Energy) has expanded its call for the voluntary reduction in the use of power on May 13 to various sectors and industries. All initiatives for  [ensuring] sufficient power supply is necessary for a successful and credible elections,” Petilla said in the circular.

The DOE, he said, earlier directed members of the Power Task Force Election 2013 to request power intensive industries to voluntary reduce their operating hours from 12:00 p.m. of May 12 up to 12 p.m. of May 14.

Mall owners have already committed to cut their operating hours on Monday and to run their own generators during the day.

SM Supermalls committed to do voluntary load curtailment and use their own gensets during election day, while Robinsons Malls would reduce their mall hours to reduce demand. Ayala Malls will also use their own gensets during peak hours of election day, the DOE explained.

There are normally three peak periods in a day starting from 10 a.m. to 12 noon; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The appeal for the use of gensets was meant to be an added measure on Monday, despite the expected power supply surplus across the three main grids.

Transmission operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines earlier reported that gross reserves in Luzon are expected to reach 2,074 megawatts on May 13; 530 MW in the Visayas; and 107 MW in Mindanao.

In Mindanao, Petilla warned that they might cut off power supply of factories and plants that would operate on May 13.

“If you run your factories/plants, we might disconnect you. That’s profit to some of you, but it’s of national interest for us. We will extend full authority of DOE to sanction those who will not cooperate, although based on the responses we got, they will cooperate,” Petilla said. “If you want to open your business, you have to use your own power.”