From July 26 to August 5, Luzon experienced a series of power outages due to insufficient supply of energy.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi explains in the Senate Committee on Energy that it was due to simultaneous maintenance shutdown of power plants supplying the Luzon grid.
Sec. Cusi says the power suppliers delayed their maintenance operations in light of the needed energy for the elections.
This resulted in eventual leakages and breakdowns of power plants.
However, Sec. Cusi admits, they have not monitored the maintenance shutdowns of power plants which resulted to insufficient supply of energy.
He says they are now investigating whether there is collusion between power suppliers to manipulate the supply on Luzon grid.
“We are not accusing anybody of collusion. We are investigating to make sure that there is no violation like collusion. We just want to make sure that our consumers are protected. That’s why we are investigating them,” Sec. Cusi said.
The secretary ensures that there will be no power crisis as long as there is proper scheduling of maintenance shutdowns of power plants.
Various means to lower the power cost were also tackled in the hearing.
Sen. Ralph Recto suggests to use the Malampaya fund to subsidize the cost of energy.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao proposes to strike out the charges such as administrative and technical power loss that are being paid by consumers.
Committee on Energy Chair, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, on the other hand, recommends the revision of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA to attract more power suppliers to join the market.
He also says government processes should be streamlined and be made easier.
Gatchalian stresses that in the current system, it would take years for power plants to secure more than 200 signatures for permit to operate.
“The power that we need in the next 10-15 years is about 10,000 megawatts. We have to act fast because if it will take you 5 years to build a power plant, we will have a shortage,” Sen. Gatchalian said.
Due to lack of government subsidy, electric companies charge higher power rates to consumers in comparison to neighboring countries. In this light, the Senate Committee on Energy, on its next hearings, will focus not only on securing sufficient energy supply but also on putting in measures to lessen power cost demanded to consumers. — Joyce Balancio / UNTV News & Rescue
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