By Joann Villanueva | Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Department of Energy raised the possibility of power interruptions Monday after yellow and red alerts have been issued anew for the Luzon grid, as power reserves remain thin due to non-functioning units of several power plants.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said yellow alert is up from 9 a.m -1 p.m., 4 p.m.-5 p.m., and 6 p.m.-8 p.m., while red alert covers the period from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Available capacity for the day is at 10,669 megawatts (MW) while peak demand is projected at 10,619MW.
The DOE said “a yellow alert status does not result in power interruptions. “However, depending on system conditions, the occurrence of power outages from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. is possible,” it said.
Four power plants have units that are on forced outages to date, it added.
These are the Unit 2 of SMC Consolidated Power Corporation in Limay, Bataan; Unit 1 of Team Energy Corporation in Sual, Pangasinan; Unit 2 of Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation in Calaca, Batangas; and Unit 3 of Pagbilao Energy Corporation in Quezon province.
There are also two power plants that have de-rated capacity and these are the Unit 1 of Masinloc Power Partners Company Ltd., which originally has a 315-MW capacity but is only able to provide 304MW due to still undisclosed problem, and the Unit 2 of SEM Calaca Power Corporation from 300MW to 200 MW due to half condenser operation.
With the thinning of reserves, the Energy Department said the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) will be implemented from 1:01 p.m. to 4 p.m. “to avert the possibility of a power interruption during the Red Alert status.”
Under ILP, electricity customers with huge requirement but has power generators are asked to use their units to ensure that overall demand in the system are met.
“Consumers may participate in averting any power interruption by the using their electricity wisely and efficiently. “Energy efficiency” means the use of energy without waste, or ‘walang sayang’,” the DOE added.
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