DOE: Power Supply Adequate for the Summer

With the summer season already in full swing and demand for energy at its highest, the Department of Energy (DOE) is confident that power supply even for the summer months will be adequate.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said that the DOE has already taken the necessary steps to closely monitor power plants and their scheduled maintenance shutdowns to avoid any incidents of a forced outage.

Fuentebella also announced that there are new power plants in Limay, Bataan from San Miguel Corporation coming in April and May with a total of 300 megawatts (MW) and preparations for the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) are already being made.

Under the ILP, major power consumers like malls which have their own generator sets will voluntarily break off from the main grid and so that the reduced load will be distributed to other smaller establishments and residential consumers.

Fuentebella also indicated that from April 22 to June 10, a total of 20 power plants will undergo maintenance shutdowns, the biggest of which is the Pagbilao Unit 1.

The DOE is carefully studying the matter so that a proper scheduling of maintenance work will be implemented and no unnecessary power interruptions during the period would occur.

Despite the readiness, the DOE is still on a full-scale information campaign for energy conservation especially during the season when demand and consumption will be at its highest for the year.

”Aside from the plants that we are looking into, the Malaya is ready to run. And also, we have a massive campaign for conservation, because the demand-side is forgotten sometimes that we play a very important role, the consumers. Especially so with our IT gadgets,” Fuentebella said.

Fuentebella also indicated that for Luzon which has a demand of around 9,000MW, there is a reserve of over 10,000 MW. For Visayas and Mindanao which has a demand of around 1,500 MW, there are reserves of 2,000 MW. (PNA)
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