Yellow alerts may be experienced in April and May in the Luzon Grid as hydroelectric power plants run below capacity level due to the El Niño phenomenon, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
“The summer period exerts significant pressure on electricity demand due to increased cooling needs, leading to peak demand shifts in consumption and infrastructure strain. We are, therefore, closely coordinating with all the stakeholders to carefully manage and plan for the effects of the summer period and the on-going El Niño to ensure reliable and sustainable electricity supply at the same time we request the support of everyone during this challenging period by being conscious in our use of electricity,” said DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla, in a statement yesterday.
Yellow alerts are issued when the level of power reserve in the grid is low while red alerts are declared when actual power supply against demand is insufficient and power interruptions are imminent.
The DOE said latest forecasts for the Visayas and Mindanao grids will continue to have normal reserve levels in the second quarter of the year.
Despite the warning, the DOE said the injection of power to the grid of generation facilities under testing and commissioning are allowed to provide additional capacity to the grid as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is also directed to expedite completion of this activity.
DOE added NGCP is also being reminded on the completion of the major transmission projects by the first half of 2024, such as the Hermosa-San Jose 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission project and Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230 kV stage three backbone project.
The CNP is expected to be finished by the end of this month as committed by the NGCP.
Meanwhile, power generation companies are reminded to comply with the DOE-approved Grid Operating and Maintenance Program and forced outages within the allowance set by the Energy Regulatory Commission in accordance with the applicable guidelines. They are also reminded to ensure committed power generation projects will meet target commercial operation date.
Accordingly, the DOE ensures NGCP and all distribution utilities are ready to activate and implement their Interruptible Load Program (ILP) while the National Electrification Administration is providing the necessary assistance to the electric cooperatives in the implementation of their ILP.
ILP is an energy demand-side management program through which large-load customers are asked to use their generator sets or shift their operations, instead of drawing power from the grid, to spare households from power interruptions during instances when power supply is insufficient to meet demand.
The DOE is also calling on the public to continue practising energy conservation to minimize the cost of running oil-based power plants during this period.
Meanwhile, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) assured its 7.8 million customers of continuous, reliable and stable electricity service throughout the Holy Week break.
The company said while its business centers will be closed from March 28 to 30, personnel will be ready 24/7 to attend to customer concerns on electricity service.
All Meralco business centers will resume operations on April 1.
With the Holy Week coinciding with the start of the dry season, Meralco also reminds the public to practice electrical safety and energy efficiency for a safe and worry-free break.
