Palace Working With Congress to Ensure Stable Power supply Next Year

Manila — Malacañang said it continues to work with Congress to come up with an acceptable solution to the impending power shortage during summer next year.

“The government wants to ensure a stable supply and reasonably priced electricity for our people during the summer months of 2015,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a press briefing at the Palace on Tuesday.

“We will continue working with Congress in providing an appropriate response and a satisfactory solution: stable and reliable supply at rates that are reasonable and not excessive or abusive,” he added.

According to Secretary Coloma, the Department of Energy (DOE) has said that even if there is no actual power shortage in the summer of 2015, reserves will likely be thin.

Should there be unexpected breakdowns or unscheduled maintenance of electric power plants, the thin reserves could be depleted and result in rotational brownouts, he explained.

The House of Representatives is currently discussing the proposed joint congressional resolution to grant the President emergency powers to address the projected electricity shortage next year. (PCOO/PND (as)