Editorial: Summers power problem

February 14, 2015

It is now the middle of February. The very cold
nights are giving way to slightly warmer ones. But
by the last week of March, the summer season will
begin in earnest. The temperature will steadily
rise in April and May. Sometime during those
sweltering months, the demand for electric power
will hit its peak and the feared power shortage, for
which President Aquino seeks emergency powers,
will be upon us.
The House of Representatives was quick to
approve Resolution No. 21 last December granting
the President power to suspend certain laws and regulations hampering the production
of electric power, such as the Clean Air Act and the Solid Waste Disposal Act, to allow the
completion of certain power plants.
The Senate has taken its time acting on its own resolution. It is now considering Senate
Joint Resolution No. 12 to authorize President Aquino to raise the generating capacity of
the Luzon Grid to meet the projected peak power demand of 9,000 megawatts this
summer. The Grid Code mandates a reserve of about 1,650 megawats to allow for
fluctuations and unscheduled breakdowns. The total need should be met by the
confirmed plans of various energy agencies and private firms to use their own generating
sets during the peak powers to lessen the demand during these hours.
The power problem has not been given much public attention lately because of
intervening events, such as the Mamasapano killings, which have forced other national
issues aside. But an announcement the other day that the public will have to pay more
for its electric power consumption this week reminded us that the summer shortage
problem is very much alive and will soon be here.
Sen. Sergio Osmea III, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, believes the
voluntary Interruptible Load Program (ILP), in which private firms will run their own
generation sets during peak hours, will be able to meet the shortage that may arise at
certain days this summer. The participating agencies and firms will be refunded the cost
of the diesel used in their generation sets. This is better, he said, than the Department of
Energys proposal to lease gensets to generate 300 megawatts at a cost of P6 billion for
two years.
The general publics cooperation is also crucial. Buildings may raise the temperature in
their premises by a few degrees to lessen the consumption of air-conditioning units.

Households can help in a number of ways, such as turning off unnecessary lights and
minimizing the use of electric appliances. A campaign on this matter can be launched by
the Department of Energy and local government units listing things that can be done to
keep down power consumption.