Govt sets probes onLuzon power outages

By Jordeene B. Lagare June 4, 2021
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/06/04/business/top-business/govt-sets-probes-onluzon-power-outages/1801888

POWER supply in Luzon is normal for now but it does not mean that the government will stop efforts to go after those liable for the power interruptions that struck the country in the past few days.

During a Palace briefing, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said an investigation is underway to look into "sabotage" allegations following the raising of red and yellow alert notices in the Luzon grid for three straight days.

"Whether or not there is a sabotage resulting in power interruptions, the agency is looking at it," Cusi said in Filipino.

He said the Department of Energy (DoE) has sought the assistance of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) on the issue.

On Wednesday, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the DoE is exploring legal options.

"We are studying if non-compliance with our policies is a crime tantamount to economic sabotage," said Fuentebella in Filipino.during the Laging Handa briefing.

The agency has issued a circular that prohibits power generators from undertaking preventive maintenance every April, May, and June of the year since these are the months where demand is at its highest.

"While the probe is ongoing, we cannot conclude what exactly happened," Cusi said in Filipino.

Cusi has apologized for the successive brownouts that struck the country's largest island this week.

As early as Monday, parts of Metro Manila and adjacent provinces have grappled with rotating brownouts lasting for one to two hours a day.

But Cusi said on Thursday that Luzon has a normal power supply. "As of today, the power supply situation is normal" he said in Filipino.

Citing data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the DoE said the projected available capacity was at 11,601 megawatts (MW) while peak demand was at 10,331 MW.

Data from the Department of Energy (DoE) showed the Luzon grid shed 4,088 MW.

Pagbilao Coal-Fired Power Plant Unit 2, with capacity of 382 MW, is expected to resume normal operations on Sunday.

On the other hand, 316-MW Coal-Fired Power Plant Unit 2 of GNPower Mariveles Energy Center is expected to return to service on June 8 but Unit 1 of the same coal facility is projected to resume operations on August 31.

Units 1 to 3 of San Roque Power Corp.'s Hydroelectric Power Plant, with total capacity of 435 MW, are on its annual planned outage for turbine inspection until June 13.

Meanwhile, 300-MW Sem-Calaca Coal-Fired Power Plant Unit 2 (300 MW) is seen to return to service on July 1.

The Ilijan power plant is still operating at reduced capacity of 716 MW due to the ongoing gas restriction from the Malampaya gas project.

On Wednesday, the ERC directed generation companies (gencos) to explain the unplanned outages that breached the maximum allowable unplanned outage days per year.

These are SEM Calaca Corp.; GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd.; Masinloc Power Partners Co., Ltd.; Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp.; Team Sual Corp.; SPC Power Corp.; Panay Power Corp.; SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc.; CBK Power Co. Ltd.; SPC Island Power Corp.; First Natgas Power Corp.; FGP Corp.; First Gas Power Corp.; Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm); Energy Development Corp.; Hedcor Bukidnon, Inc.; and Psalm/Soosan ENS Co., Ltd. Philippines.

"We are strictly monitoring and reviewing the weekly reports being submitted by the Generation Companies in compliance with our directive pertaining to the Reliability Performance Indices and Equivalent Outage Days Per Year of Generating Units," ERC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera had said in a statement.