By Alena Mae S. Flores
The Interim Mindanao Electricity Market starts commercial operation today, as the government aims to use the power trading platform to manage electricity supply and address the power shortage in the south.
The electricity spot market is expected to draw in 100 to 150 megawatts of power, with supply-deficient electric cooperatives likely to buy capacity requirements.
“With the interim market’s commercial launch, we are reminded that, as major players and contributors in this evolving power industry, we are given the opportunity to deal with problems like supply shortfalls and challenges head on and play a significant role in making the IMEM a success,” Philippine Electricity Market Corp. president Melinda Ocampo said in a statement.
Ocampo said the success of the IMEM was in the hands of industry stakeholders in Mindanao.
“As the IMEM operator, PEMC can only do as much in ensuring that the established systems and processes adhere to the approved IMEM Rules and that we follow our designation/assignment in the dispatch protocol,” she said.
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said the IMEM aimed to provide the platform for electricity market in Mindanao, in an effort to help address the island’s supply shortfall.
“IMEM is not here as a final institution with final rules. It will react according to the needs of the electricity market rather than put out final procedures that cannot be changed,” Petilla said.
He said IMEM was by far the most dynamic way of extracting uncontracted and available power capacities in Mindanao.
IMEM is designed to provide an immediate venue for transparent and efficient utilization of additional capacities to address Mindanao’s energy supply shortfall.
This commercial electricity market will allow energy distributors to sell power supply from its embedded generators to areas having deficit.
All distribution utilities and other generation capacities connected to the Mindanao power system are mandated to participate in the IMEM. However, the market also encourages the participation of the voluntary load customers through load curtailment or synchronized self-generation.
“We are assured of sufficient supply two years from now but in the meantime, we welcome the upcoming operations of Mindanao’s own electricity market to ease up deficiency,” said Mindanao Development Authority chairman Luwalhati Antonino.
She said while load curtailment were expected in parts of Mindanao mainly due to scheduled preventive maintenance of the some power plants, the entry of capacities in the IMEM would result in better power outlook. source
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