No brownouts this summer: DOE

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The Department of Energy (DOE) brushed aside fears of possible power supply issues this summer and assured  only yellow alerts are expected in the Luzon and Visayas grids.

“At present, based on the power outlook released last January, we don’t see for such situation (supply issues) to happen. There are possible yellow alerts in Luzon and Visayas but not brownouts,” said DOE undersecretary Rowena Guevara, at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

Yellow alerts are issued when the level of power reserve in the grid is low and power interruptions are not yet imminent.

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Guevara  there is enough volume of contingency reserves but said at worst, power rates will go up  if unscheduled  plant shutdowns would be implemented.

Rates would go up once plants that run on more expensive fuel will be tapped.

Last January, Guevara said the Luzon Grid may experience at least 12 weeks of yellow alerts this year based on the approved grid operating management plan with an assumption that only 600 megawatts (MW) of capacity will be under forced outage.

Guevara said the yellow alerts are seen on March 12 to 18; March 26 to April 1; April 23 to 29, the entire month of May; June 1 to 10; August 27 to September 2; October 15 to 21 and; November 19 to 25.

However, Guevara said if 420 MW of diesel-fired power plants will be operated as needed, yellow alert may only be hoisted for one week or from April 30 to May 6.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)  earlier warned power supply during the summer months could be thin due to higher electricity demand.

NGCP cited forecasts of the DOE which indicated total peak demand of 13,125 MW for Luzon could occur towards the end of May, an 8.35 percent increase from the actual 2022 peak load of 12,113MW which occurred in May 12, 2022.

NGCP said the DOE sees Visayas to have a 16.19 percent increase in peak demand this year at 2,691 MW from last year’s actual peak of 2,316 MW recorded in September.

NGCP said the DOE sees Mindanao to have a 10.52-percent increase in peak demand at 2,395 MW from last year’s peak of 2,167 MW logged in June.

 

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