DOE eyes charges vs power suppliers suspected of causing brownouts

NGCP power lines (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday said it is studying the possibility of filing charges against power suppliers that may have violated the agency’s policies and caused interruptions in the Luzon grid, resulting in rotational brownouts.

“Our lawyers in the Department of Energy are exploring that. We are in the process of gathering pieces of evidence,” DOE Undersecretary Felix Fuentebella said in a televised briefing when asked if the agency is eyeing to file charges against power suppliers.

Fuentebella explained the DOE prohibits any preventive maintenance, except for hydropower plants, during the second quarter of the year due to high electricity demand.

“Whether or all these were violated or complied with, we are gathering pieces of evidence because ano bang gusto ng Department of Energy? Penalty ba? Hindi. Ang gusto natin compliance,” Fuentebella said.

(Whether or all these were violated or complied with, we are gathering pieces of evidence because what does the Department of Energy want? Is it to impose a penalty? No. We want compliance.)

“Pero kung patuloy ang hindi pag-comply, wala tayong magagawa kundi we have to impose the discipline that is necessary. Because at the end of the day, consumers are suffering.”

(But if they continue non-compliance, we have no option but to impose the discipline that is necessary. Because at the end of the day, consumers are suffering.)

This Wednesday, the Luzon grid was under red alert for 13 hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m, which meant there were zero ancillary services or a generation deficiency had existed.

A yellow alert was also hoisted earlier at 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and will resume at 5:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m., and at 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight.

/MUF