Think tank Infrawatch PH has urged the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to require electric cooperatives (ECs) to undertake urgent competitive selection processes (CSP) for additional power supply to avert blackouts this summer.
Terry Ridon, Infrawatch PH convenor and former House energy committee member, said CSPs would address the tight supply when power consumption surges.
“The use of cooling equipment will definitely increase during the summer months, precisely because of elevated temperatures but no amount of conservation can address a power deficiency in the Luzon grid as high as 800 megawatts (MW). Government should be reminded that onus is not on consumers, but (on) power distributors and regulators,” Ridon said.
He said the conduct of CSPs by ECs will ensure adequate capacity while also guaranteeing fair and lower power prices for all consumers.
NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong earlier warned of a possible rotational power interruptions lasting from one to two hours during the summer months due to lack of electricity reserves.
Additional capacity of 256 MW to 821 MW is needed in the Luzon power grid.
Citing data from the Department of Energy, Masongsong said red alerts may be issued from April 18 to 21 and May 20 to 22.
NEA said most ECs contract 90 percent of their supply from CSPs. The and the remaining 10 percent, usually for peaking needs, from the wholesale electricity spot market in order to balance the cost of electricity.
