DoE prepares plan for summer surge
We see in the past years, we have several of these maintenance periods and we always overcome the effects
We see in the past years, we have several of these maintenance periods and we always overcome the effects
The Department of Energy is coordinating with all stakeholders and players in the power sector to avert any power price spikes and offset other projected impacts to consumers of the high electricity demand in the coming dry months.
At a press conference last week, Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla said the DoE has mobilized its teams and partners to ensure that power consumers are always protected.
"For any distribution firm, it is too early to tell how much the power prices would be in summer when demand is usually higher," Lotilla said.
"We see in the past years, we have several of these maintenance periods and we always overcome the effects. We pray and hope that the international prices of liquid oil fuels will go down further in the next year so that it can tide over the country or the Luzon grid in particular over these summer months," he added.
To guarantee a continuous supply of power, the DoE is working with all concerned parties on several contingency measures such as designating "must-run" plants and encouraging bulk users to generate their supply.
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Power plants on a "must run" status are required to supply electricity under all conditions.
Voluntary load program readied
Likewise, DoE will coordinate with Meralco and other distribution utilities and retail power suppliers for activation of the Interruptible Load Program plan and accelerate the campaign for energy efficiency and conservation for industrial, commercial, government, and residential consumers.
Relatedly, Meralco, the country's largest power distributor, kicked off a Competitive Selection Processes for 480 megawatts of the supply as part of the company's preparation for the peak summer season.
The DoE recently approved the Terms of Reference for the two CSPs involving Meralco's 300-MW peaking requirement from 26 February 2023 to 25 July 2023, and 180-MW baseload supply from 26 February 2023 to 25 February 2024.
Meralco said the timely approval of the TOR would help the power distributor ensure the availability of reliable, stable, and least cost-supply for its 7.6 million customers, especially in the summer months.
