FILE PHOTO: A sunset in a neighborhood somewhere in Metro Manila, Luzon Region. (Giemer Painaga / Photoville International)
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) is monitoring the power consumption of Luzon daily.
This is to ensure that there will be no widespread brownouts especially since the Malampaya is not functional.
Power plants under repair at the same time as the Malampaya are also a significant reduction in reserves.
The hot weather has set in. It means power consumption will go up because many of our countrymen are using airconditioning units and electric fans.
MERALCO records show that in January, the highest power consumption was at 7400 MW, which went up in February to 7600 MW. This March, it is already at 7800 MW.
In May of 2014, the highest power consumption was recorded in Luzon at 9100 MW.
Based on the capacity of power plants, only 10,000 MW of power can be supplied to Luzon.
If the high consumption continues, there is a huge possibility of thin supply which can lead to brownouts.
So the DOE and MERALCO continue to call on the public to save on electricity.
According to the DOE, if all airconditioning units are set at 25 degrees, we can save 400 MW, the equivalent of one big power plant.
MERALCO said that if a household will adjust their aircon temperatures to 25 degrees for 6 hours, they will save P280 in their bill. So the big malls in Metro Manila have starte dadjusting the temperature settings of their air-conditioning units to 25 degrees.
“The conservation and savings you will do will always redound to lower bills for the customers of MERALCO especially now that we are expecting the possibility of an increase,” MERALCO spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said.
A hike in power rates is looming in April and May, so saving on electric consumption will help a lot to lower electric bills that consumers have to pay. (Mon Jocson / UNTV News)