(Taguig City). The Department of Energy (DOE) is readying measures to ensure the sufficiency and stability of energy supply in the years to come, especially during the summer when the power supply is traditionally lean.
In line with this, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has issued the appropriate directives to the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, the Energy Utilization Management Bureau and the entire DOE to conduct a massive information, education and communication (IEC) drive.
The goal set by the DOE chief is to ensure the implementation of an effective demand-side management program for energy supply.
On the Post-Malampaya Scheduled Maintenance Shutdown coordination meeting among industry players, the following inputs were discussed and submitted to support the Secretary's directive:
1. To continue the close coordination among the stakeholders in monitoring the entire energy supply chain (i.e., from energy resource development to the power plants to the distribution utilities up to the consumers composed of the industrial, commercial and residential levels);
2. To continue the advocacy for the development of indigenous energy resources, in which the permitting system must be addressed by giving importance to energy projects and classifying such as projects of national significance;
3. To ensure delivery of power to the consumers by:
a. ensuring the completion of power plants in time for the summer months. For instance, the Limay Coal-Fired Power Plant in Bataan that have already been delayed for various reasons to go online;
b. monitoring the output of the power plants through the conduct of performance assessment and audit. For instance, the maintenance schedules of the power plants during the summer months like the Pagbilao Coal-fired Power Plant;
c. preparing the availability of the Malaya Thermal Power Plant as a back-up generation to ensure sufficiency of supply and d. ensuring the readiness of the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), in which the DOE is looking into a change in policy where the differential in the cost of running the generators will not be passed on to the consumers, but instead to be paid for by power plants that went on forced outage.
ILP serves as an option for Distribution Utilities (DUs) like the Manila Electric Company and electric cooperatives to ask their big load customers to serve their own power needs by using their own generator sets to augment power supply capacity in times of Red Alert Status or when power supply reserves are thin.
“We have to give our consumers options on how to manage their use of energy without sacrificing their productivity,” Cusi emphasized.
“The DOE is already conducting an IEC campaign to the top government load users like the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), etc., and energy tips for consumers,” Cusi said.
Meanwhile, Cusi said “the DOE is also looking at the quick resolution of the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) by the Supreme Court. Under the RCOA regime, the contestable customers and the retail electricity suppliers are compelled to be more efficient in the delivery and use of energy resources."
Additionally, the DOE is looking at the pending applications of DUs and electric cooperatives on modern mechanisms for demand-side management with the Energy Regulatory Commission, like the smart grid and the pre-paid electricity technologies.
In conclusion, Sec. Cusi reiterates the energy saving tips for the consumers as follows:
1. Bawasan ng dalawang (2) oras ang paggamit ng aircon araw-araw. Makatitipid ng 30.50 kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP346.50 na tipid kada buwan.
2. Ilagay ang thermostat ng aircon sa 25 oC. Makatitipid ng 12.6 kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP138.60 na tipid kada buwan.
3. Bawasan ng isang (1) oras ang paggamit ng TV (mula 10 oras gawing 9 oras). Makatitipid ng 1.8 kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP19.80 na tipid kada buwan.
4. Ilagay sa “Low” ang electric fan sa halip na “High”. Makatitipid ng 4.8kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP52.80 na tipid kada buwan.
5. Bawasan ng isang (1) oras ang paggamit ng ilaw araw-araw. Sa isang ilaw, makatitipid ng 0.45 kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP4.95 na tipid kada buwan.
6. Bawasan ng isang (1) oras ang paggamit ng computer araw-araw. Makatitipid ng 4.5 kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP49.50 na tipid kada buwan.
7. Mas mainam gumamit ng laptop dahil mas mababa ang konsumo nito kaysa desktop. Makatitipid ng 30kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP330.00 na tipid kada buwan.
8. Iwasan ang pag bukas-sara ng refrigerator kung hindi kailangan. Makatitipid ng 2.59 kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay PhP28.40 na tipid kada buwan.
9. Bawasan ng isang (1) oras ang pag plantsa kada linggo, gawin itong Sabado o Linggo para makaiwas sa “peak hours.” Makatitipid ng 4kWh na konsumo, katumbas nito ay Php44.00 na tipid kada buwan.
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