Power supply for election reliable

WITH a stable power supply reserve of 300 to 400 megawatts (MW) daily, Cebuanos are assured of uninterrupted power on the May 13 election.

This is vital for an automated election because the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines do not work without electricity.

Dept. of Energy -7 Director Antonio Labios said the Visayas grid has enough power reserves.

Based on data from the NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines), the Visayas has 1,713 MW power capacity and a peak demand of 1,328 MW.

This leaves a reserve of 385 MW.

“That is a huge reserve for us and we expect lower power demand during the election because it’s a holiday,” said Labios.

Of the 1,713 total capacity in the Visayas grid, about 700 MW are embedded capacity in Cebu.

This includes 200 MW from KEPCO Salcon in Naga, Cebu and 246 MW from Cebu Energy Development Corp. in Toledo City, Cebu.

Labios estimated power demand in the Visayas to be 1,100 MW during holidays and weekends.

In the last May 10, 2010 election, power demand peaked at 269 megawatts (MW), even lower by about 68 MW compared to the following day’s peak demand of 337 MW, said Theresa Sederiosa, communications manager of the Visayan Electric Company.

Labios said DOE has also issued a circular to NGCP and power generators not to schedule maintenance works a week before and after the election period.

“That is to make sure that we really have enough power,” said Labios.

Power utilities in also have an election contingency plan.

All personnel will be on duty during the election to be able to attend to any problem that may development in their power operations, said Cebu Electrical Cooperative (Cebeco) manager Lowell Belcina.

Veco is also ready to address any emergency.

“We want as quick response as possible,” said Sederiosa.

“Our people are well briefed about what they need to do in case of any incident. We have delegated point persons and contact persons all laid out in the contigency plan,” she said.