(UPDATED) The Energy Task Force Election (ETFE) led by the Department of Energy (DOE) has assured that there is enough power supply for the 2022 national and local elections this Monday despite having several incidents of power interruptions nationwide.
As of 440PM on Monday, the DOE and the National Electrification Administration have reported 201 power interruptions in 61 electric cooperatives’ (ECs) franchise areas, with each interruption averaging 70 minutes.
As for private distribution utilities (DUs), the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Visayan Electric Company (VECO), Mactan Electric Company (MECO), Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company, and Cotabato Light and Power have reported power interruptions averaging 74 minutes.
Affected MERALCO areas include those in Valenzuela City and Bulacan, while VECO’s include those in Cebu City. MERALCO and VECO are the country’s two largest DUs.
The DOE said that services in the five DUs have been restored, as these have immediately been acted on.
The ETFE pointed out that the power distrubances were not caused by supply issues, but were rather triggered by other factors, such as system failures.
“We would also like to inform everyone that in the event of a loss of power in a precinct, the batteries of the vote counting machines are able to last for 10-12 hours. This battery span ensures that the counting of votes remain uninterrupted while the DUs and ECs do their restoration work,” Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi said in a statement.
It added that all power generation plants’ operations are normal.
On Friday, Energy Asec. Redentor Delola led the ETFE in checking the power outlook during the elections as well as inspecting the facilities of the Commission on Elections, security of energy facilities, and oil industry preparations.
Based on data from NGCP as of 5PM on Monday, the Luzon Grid has an available capacity of 13,969 megawatts (MW) with a demand of 8,764MW. The Visayas Grid’s available capacity stands 2,821MW with a demand of 1,649MW, while the Mindanao Grid has an available capacity of 2,959MW with a demand of 1,348MW.