The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) sought the assistance of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in encouraging businesses to participate in the interruptible load program (ILP) that will help in reducing demand for power in the grid when supply is not enough.
ILP is a demand management relief scheme that encourages customers with large electricity consumption to run their own generator sets whenever supply of electricity in the grid is short in exchange for monetary incentives.
“We seek the assistance and support of the PCCI to encourage their members especially the commercial and industrial customers to participate in the ILP to help augment the limited power supply considering the possible power interruptions in the coming months,” said ERC chair Agnes Devanadera, in a statement.
Citing the power outlook prepared by the Department of Energy, the regulatory body noted the possibility of tight supply conditions resulting to yellow and red alerts in the upcoming weeks.
In 2019, the ERC amended the rules for the implementation of the ILP which was first introduced in 2010.
Under the amended rules, the scheme may also be activated during other grid conditions like emergency state as defined under the Philippine Grid Code or when a single or a multiple outage contingency has occurred without resulting in total system blackout, in order to reduce demand even before a red alert status is declared.
ERC said these instances occur when there is a generation deficiency; low transmission voltage; or when loading level of any transmission line or substation equipment is above 11 percent of its operational thermal limit capacity.
