DOE moves to secure Mindanao’s power

Manila Times.net
Published : Thursday, January 19, 2012 00:00 Written by : Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo


The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking at measures to secure Mindanao’s power supply amid utilities’ hesitance to deal with generators in the region.
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said that distribution utilities in Mindanao have not secured available power generating capacity despite the region’s power supply woes.


“There is about 100 megawatts [MW] of undispatched power so we’re checking on why. I think some of the electric cooperatives are hesitant to buy, because they might be blamed because of the pricing,” he said.


Parts of Mindanao suffered from power outages on Wednesday after available supply, which was placed at 1,190 MW, was not able to meet demand of 1,255 MW. The supply deficiency was brought about by insufficient generating capacity that was compounded by the maintenance of some of the region’s power plants.


Almendras, however, said that the region’s supply woes was further affected by utilities not fully securing available supply from power plants.


“Even with those plants being on maintenance, there is still capacity that is ready. There is generation capacity that’s there,” he added.


To help secure the region’s power supply situation, the DOE chief said that they are considering several options although “it would be difficult to force people” to buy electricity.


“I think the best way is consumers should complain to their cooperative. At the end of the day, it’s the distributor who’s supposed to buy the necessary power to sell. That’s the key to the market,” Almendras added.


Earlier, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, vice-chairman of the House energy committee, said that “powerful forces” in government and the electric power industry could be behind moves to delay action on the supply contracts between distribution companies and power generators.


The lawmaker said that he suspects those behind the privatization of government power barges, which can be moved to different locations, wanted to make a “fast buck” from the Mindanao power crisis.