April 3,
2020 | 12:06 am
THE POWER
ARM of Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) maintained its operations
to supply electricity in Mindanao while the country is placed under a state of
public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic.
FDC Utilities,
Inc. (FDCUI) on Thursday said it has implemented its contingency measures to
continue its operations, assuring a steady supply of electricity in its service
areas.
“Having
access to stable power is crucial for our front liners to help curb the impact
and further prevent the spread of the dreaded coronavirus,” FDCUI President and
Chief Executive Officer Juan Eugenio L. Roxas said in a statement.
Considering
its skeletal workforce, Mr. Roxas said they have “arranged for accommodations
for reporting employees and contracted personnel in our power plant facility.”
“Food and
other provisions are in stock and available for those reporting to work for the
duration of the enhanced community quarantine,” he added.
The power
firm reported that its unit FDC Misamis Power Corp, which runs a 405-megawatt
(MW) thermal plant in Northern Mindanao, has released its remaining Energy
Regulation 1-94 (ER 1-94) funds to provide financial assistance to its host
communities providing health services.
Said
funds are centavo per kilowatt-hour share of power companies to communities
where they operate.
Meanwhile,
in a Laging Handa press briefing by the Philippine Communications Operations
Office, both the government and the private sector said power supply in Luzon
remained sufficient amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Both the
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Manila Electric Co.
(Meralco) have maintained their operations to provide uninterrupted power
services to consumers across the island.
NGCP
Spokesperson Cynthia P. Alabanza noted around 20-30% power demand drop equal to
a 3,000 MW decline from the forecast 12,285 MW electricity peak demand in Luzon
in May.
Meralco,
which suspended its meter reading and bills delivery during the ECQ, said that
its customers would only pay their average electricity consumption from January
to March in the next billing cycle.
“Pagkatapos
ng naturang quarantine period, once we have a normal situation, ano
man ‘yung kulang o sobra sa aktwal na konsumo ay ia-adjust sa
susunod na billing cycle. So, pagkatapos ng lahat ng adjustments, ang
inyong tamang nakonsumo lang ang babayaran,” Meralco Spokesperson Joe R.
Zaldarriaga said.
(Once we
have a normal situation after the quarantine period, the lack and excess in
energy consumption will be adjusted in the succeeding billing cycle. After all
the adjustments were made, customers would have to pay for what they have only
consumed.) — Adam J. Ang
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