Manila Bulletin
by Mario Casayuran
September 18, 2014
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jericho Petilla told the Senate yesterday that power consumers will have to pay P0.10 to P0.15 more per kilowatt-hour (kwh) in the summer of 2015.
Petilla issued the statement as he pleaded with the Senate Committee on Energy chaired by Sen. Sergio R. Osmeña III to give President Aquino emergency powers to avoid a looming power crisis next year.
“The increased cost of power is unlike the P4 kwh hour consumers paid when the Malampaya gas-supplied power plants shut down early this summer, he said.
Petilla had proposed a P6-billion fund to finance the President’s “special powers.” This will be taken from the Malampaya fund.
Malacañang submitted this week to both chambers of Congress a proposed joint resolution giving President Aquino’s emergency powers to address the looming power crisis.
But Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said the Osmeña committee would have to go through Malacañang’s request with a fine-toothed comb.
Osmeña said his committee would form a technical working group (TWG) to assess the proposal
After the second public hearing on the DOE budget, Osmeña told Senate reporters that “we will definitely give the President special powers but how much power, how long… that is what the committee will decide on.”
Petilla assured Osmeña that his department held monthly time meetings during the summer to look at the looming power in the country next year and tapped all options “before I pushed the panic button.”
Osmeña said he is inclined to grant the President six months to resolve the power crisis and “maybe give the President extra powers extra time to cover 2016.”
He said it is up to Congress to look for the least cost to the consumer but “we will verify it . . . whether it is lease or we will just buy from WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market).” source
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