DOE: Power supply sufficient, no yellow alert, no interruption in Eleksyon 2022

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday assured the public that there will be no rotational power interruptions as power supply is sufficient within the May 9, 2022 elections period.

At a virtual press conference, Energy Undersecretary and spokesperson Felix William Fuentebella, citing the projections of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), said that power reserves, not the power supply, will be thin during the summer period next year.

“The reason why there is thinning of reserves as far as April, May, and June is concerned, especially on May 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. It’s because of higher demand, as NGCP explained. Also it’s because of the lack of water for the hydro plants,” Fuentebella said.

The Energy official emphasized that despite the projected thin reserves it “is above the yellow line.”

This means that “the thinning of reserves shows sufficiency of supply, no yellow alert, and no interruption,” he said.

The DOE official made the clarification amid news reports that for 2022, power supply is seen to be thinning on election day and thereafter.

Senate committee on energy chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, in a statement, said that it is “unacceptable” that the DOE lacks assurance of brownout free elections next year.

Gatchalian said that the DOE should, as early as now, identify solutions and undertake steps to ensure there will be no brownouts during the 2022 elections.

Fuentebella, for his part, said the Energy department is closely monitoring the situation and coming up with policies to ensure more power supply.

At the same virtual press briefing, Manila Electric Co. spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said the company has contingency in place within its franchise area during the election period.

“Before actual elections, all facilities are ready to respond to any emergency crews strategically located gensets,” Zaldarriaga said.

National Electrification Administration deputy administrator Nikki Tortola said the agency “will be continuously assisting electric cooperatives and monitoring them.”

Philippine Independent Power Producers Association Inc. (PIPPA) president Anne Montelibano, for her part, said power generation companies will thoroughly support and comply with the DOE and NGCP’s policies to maintain power plants and “do our very best to maintain supply.”—AOL, GMA News