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DOE expects power supply boost as stakeholders vow compliance


DOE expects power supply boost as stakeholders vow compliance

The Department of Energy expressed confidence on Saturday that the thin power supply, resulting in rotational brownouts, would improve as stakeholders have vowed commitment to the policies set by the DOE.

In an interview on Dobol B TV, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said they expect improvements with stakeholders' commitment to cooperate.

“Nagkaroon ng commitment ng pagsunod ang lahat” (stakehoders have vowed to follow the policies), Fuentebella said.

Likewise, he pointed out that the thin power supply in the past weeks could have been addressed if ancillary reserve was robust to augment energy distribution during peak hours.

He said the power supply problem started when some players refused to follow the policies that were laid out in past years –such as the 2018 competitive selection process for suppliers; the 2019 rules on ancillary services; and the 2020 grid operations policy, particularly on scheduling of power plants’ preventive maintenance.

Unfortunately, he said, some stakeholders failed to implement the policies of the DOE, the energy regulating agency that also serves as the coordinator of all stakeholders in the power sector. “Hindi nasunod ang policies natin.”

But now, he said, “we expect improvements as we bank on the commitments of all players.”

Further, he said they are also pushing enforcement agencies to come in through the Cabinet Assistance System, because the DOE has no power to penalize.

With the involvement of some enforcement agencies –such as the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Philippine Competition Commission, and the Department of Justice –Fuentebella said the DOE would only want to ensure compliance, and not punishment.

He also thanked Congress for its support -- through its oversight powers -- for the DOE.

Early in June, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippine (NGCP) placed the Luzon Grid under Yellow Alert from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.; and Red Alert from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., indicating that there is zero ancillary services or a generation deficiency exists.

At the time, available capacity of the grid is at 11,408 megawatts while the peak demand is estimated at 11,593 megawatts (MW). —LBG, GMA News

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