Even with the current quarantine being implemented in the Philippines due to the Covid-19 pandemic, extreme temperature during the past weeks have resulted in a higher demand for electricity which prompted the Department of Energy to impose rotating blackouts in Metro Manila and other areas.
THE Department of Energy (DOE) is trying to strike a proper balance between supply and demand for electricity following the implementation of rotating brownouts over Luzon in past days.
During Wednesday's episode of "OpinYon News Ngayon," Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) Director Mario Marasigan explained that the rotating brownouts being implemented in parts of Luzon is part of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines' measures to "balance" the supply of electricity in the country.
"Hindi naman po kaagad ibig sabihin noon [red or yellow alert] ay kaagad may brownout," Marasigan said. "Kung saan lang po tayo kailangan na mag-balanse ng suplay [ng kuryente], doon po may potential na outages."
The NGCP has implemented a series of rotating brownouts starting Monday (May 31) after the Luzon grid was placed under a red alert, or an insufficient power supply in the grid.
High demand, low supply
Marasigan also said that even with the current quarantine being implemented in the Philippines due to the Covid-19 pandemic, extreme temperature during the past weeks have resulted in a higher demand for electricity.
"Ang dahilan po ng pagtaas ng demand sa kuryente ay dahil sa tag-init," he explained. "Lumaki po ang demand natin dahil kahit nasa bahay po ang karamihan sa atin, mayroon na po tayong kapasidad na magkaroon ng airconditioning system."
The huge demand for electricity coincided with the "unplanned" shutdowns of several power plants in Luzon.
Total projected available capacity stood at 11,729 megawatts (MW) against a projected system peak demand of 11,514 MW.
The DOE said total planned outage was at 435 MW while the total unplanned outage reached 1,285 MW.
“Muli po nating pinapaalalahanan ang mga power plants na ipinagbabawal ang pagko-conduct ng preventive maintenance measures during the summer months,” Marasigan said.
See the full interview on OpinYon’s Youtube channel. (OpinYon News)
Tags: #OpinYonLive, #OpinYonNewsNgayon, #DepartmentofEnergy