Energy think tank Center for Energy Research and Policy is urging the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to increase the required reserve power capacity of the grid to prevent future outages.
Convenor of the Center for Energy Research and Policy Noel M. Baga said that augmented reserve power could guarantee a better backup power supply should unplanned power plant outages happen.
In a report by Business World, ERC Chairperson Monalisa C. Dimalanta underscored that increasing reserve capacity aligns with the government’s efforts to boost investments in the generation sector, thereby enhancing the overall supply in the system.
According to the Department of Energy (DOE), reserve power capacity, also known as ancillary services, plays a crucial role in maintaining balance in the power system to guarantee that frequency and voltage levels are within range, particularly in response to demand changes and possible loss of a large generating unit.
Recent incidents of power plants going on forced outages have prompted yellow and red alerts across the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids.
Data by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) showed that the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids require average regulating reserves of 557 MW, 116 MW, and 103 MW, respectively.
The DOE had already warned of more yellow and possibly red alerts until May due to higher temperatures and increased power demand.
Due to this, ERC is urged to impose more firm regulations on power plant maintenance and operation, including penalties for breakdowns leading to unscheduled outages, to guarantee compliance with high-performance standards.
In 2023, the ERC imposed around Php 60 million worth of penalties against generation companies for breaching allowable outage days, highlighting the importance of regulatory oversight.
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