The Department of Energy (DOE) is persistently supervising the power situation of the country to guarantee the security of the energy supply, especially with the incoming onset of the dry season, and the El Niño phenomenon.
“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 ongoing El Niño to ensure reliable and sustainable electricity supply,” said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.
To avert warning alerts, the energy department regularly updates the power outlooks, taking into account any modifications, especially in the way power-generating units operate.
The DOE also collaborated with other government agencies for the swift approval of the regulatory requirements needed for the completion of power facilities.
Moreover, the administration of power to the grid of generation facilities which are under testing and commissioning, has been permitted to encourage additional capacity to the grid.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which was encouraged to expedite the completion of these generation facilities, was also reminded of the completion of major transmission projects such as the 500 kilovolt (kV) Hermosa-San Jose Project and the 230 kV Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) Stage 3 backbone project, which was set to be fully operational by March 2024.
Additionally, power generation companies were reminded to adhere to the DOE-approved Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP), with forced outages only permitted within the allowance set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The energy department also guaranteed that NGCP and all distribution utilities (DUs), as well as the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for the electric cooperatives, are ready to implement their respective Interruptible Load Program (ILP).
With hydroelectric power plants running below capacity due to El Niño, the Luzon grid was seen to undergo a Yellow Alert in April and May, while Visayas and Mindanao grids were seen to maintain normal reserve during the second quarter of the year.
In other developments, the DOE called on oil companies to assist motorists this Holy Week.
“We can compensate them with efficient services by ensuring that service stations are well-stocked and the staff can handle the increased volume of cars, including offering extended hours, if necessary,” Lotilla added.
With major roads and highways seen to have an influx of vehicles in the coming days, the energy secretary added that oil companies may seek community outreach programs, including collaborating with manufacturing companies for road safety campaigns.