Senator Sergio Osmeña III (center). PHOTO by Kristine Sabillo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Sergio Osmeña III on Thursday blamed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for failing to detect the energy supply shortage during Malampaya’s maintenance shutdown.
“Obviously the market merely reacted to the actual shortage (with the rising of power prices …could it) have been avoided if other plants have been called to operate?” the Senate energy committee chair asked the NGCP.
But NGCP representatives insisted that there was no supply shortage from November 8 to December 10, during the Malampaya natural gas plant shutdown.
Osmeña, however, pointed out that the market prices simply reflected the supply and demand situation.
He said the 600-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant should have been utilized to augment the energy supply and to lower the prices.
The Senate is currently holding its probe on the Meralco price hike allegedly caused by the energy supply shortage during the Malampaya shutdown. The distribution company said they were forced to buy energy at higher costs.
RELATED STORIES
Makabayan bloc accuses Meralco of price manipulation
ERC: Power rate hike collection scheme above board
Power bought from firm at P62 per kwh, says Meralco exec