By Alena Mae S. Flores Posted on Apr. 25, 2013 at 12:02am
The demand for power in Luzon peaked to a record high of 8,153 megawatts on Wednesday as temperatures climbed during the summer months, and energy officials said it could trigger higher electricity prices in the next several weeks.
Department of Energy Director Mylene Capongol said temperature in Metro Manila soared to 36 degrees on Wednesday and households, factories and commercial establishments were forced to use more electricity.
“It was the highest peak this year, so far, at 8,153 megawatts at 1:26 p.m. on April 23,” Capongol said.
The demand rose to its highest peak this year from the previous day of only 8,106 megawatts. Last year, the peak demand was only 7,889 megawatts.
The peak demand at its highest was near the system capacity of 8,963 megawatts in Luzon, leaving reserves at around 810 megawatts. Ideally the level of reserves should be equivalent to the largest power plant on the Luzon grid, which is the 1,000 megawatt Sual Coal Power Plant.
“We still have adequate power supply although there are times that operating reserves are below the required levels. But we have no brownouts,” Capongol said.
National Grid spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said power supply remained adequate in Luzon but the government wants to make sure there will be no brownouts, especially during the May 13 elections.
“This [highest peak demand] was received by the grid without incident… We have enough reserves. But we are closely monitoring, especially as the election is near,” Alabanza said.
“Supply is enough for now, but we are making sure that the scheduled power plant maintenance do not fall during summer time as previously planned. We are also looking at GN Power coming online by May 1,” Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said.
GN Power, a 600 megawatt coal-fired plant in Mariveles, Bataan, was scheduled to start operations early this year, but its opening was delayed because of technical problems.
Melinda Ocampo, President of Philippine Electricity Market Corp, which operates the wholesale electricity spot market, said electricity prices follow supply and demand behavior, which means power rates would likely go up because of the high demand.
“Existing rates are already high compared to the billings in the previous months,” she said.
In Mindanao, people complained against eight-hour brownouts that have crippled business and industry. A 15-megawatt generator of the 98-megawatt Iligan Diesel Power Plant has been switched on to ease the power outages. source
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