THE Department of Energy (DOE) has observed a decrease in power consumption in Visayas due to the closure and reduced operations of industrial and commercial establishments, particularly malls in the region.
Citing the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ daily load profile, the DOE said from 2,186 megawatts (MW) on January 29, Visayas grid peak demand went down to 1,728MW on March 28.
The report also showed that the average weekday demand of 1,772 MW in the fourth week of March is lower than the recorded 1,870 MW average demand for the same period in 2019, with a projected average demand for the same period at 2,015 MW.
“The DOE anticipates further reductions in power demand levels with the continued implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). The daily power situation, as well as the status of all power plants in the region will be closely monitored to ensure the continuous and stable supply of electricity,” the DOE said.
Last week, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) also said that the implementation of an ECQ has effectively tempered expected power demand and rates in both Luzon and Visayas.
