Luzon power supply drops to critical levels as 11 power plants fail

The National Grid Power Corporation placed the entire Luzon on red alert for an hour Monday, after power supply for the region was down to a critical level, a report on "Quick Response Team" has said.



The NGPC raised the alert from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., after forced outages in 11 power plants, along with the scheduled maintenance of four others resulted in a shortfall of about 2,000 megawatts.

The shortfall was compensated by supply coming from the Visayas, according to the report. The Uninterruptible Load Program of Meralco was also on standby in case of a brownout.

"Maraming planta ang mga bumagsak. And that's why we're investigating. Kung red man ito, it will be a high red; ibig sabihin it's still possible na walang brownout. It's the low red which will really cause a brownout," Department of Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said.

The series of alert notices issued for Luzon could also push electricity prices in the coming months.  

"Whenever there is a supply situation especially a shortfall issue, ang impact talaga e sa presyo din. Maraming beses na pong nangyari iyan," explained Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga. — DVM, GMA News