More firms join energy program

MANILA, Philippines–Customers of Aboitiz Power Corp. are expected to contribute about 177 megawatts to the government’s Interruptible Load Program (ILP), which is expected to help prevent a power supply crunch during the coming summer months.

By joining the program, the participating companies commit to run their respective generator sets when called upon to do so.

In a statement, AP said 42 customers of its Retail Electricity Supply (RES) companies hadvolunteered to temporarily isolate themselves from the electricity grid when power demand is high, so that the electricity can be re-directed to other areas.

These companies, which were expected to free up about 102 MW of capacity, include Procter and Gamble Philippines, Wyeth Philippines, Jollibee Foods Corp., Samsung Electro Mechanics Philippines Corp., Amkor Technology Phils. and Asia Brewery Inc.

Customers of AP’s distribution utilities, namely Visayan Electric Co. (Veco), Subic Enerzone and Lima Enerzone, are also contributing an additional 75 MW of de-loading capacity from their 38 customers.

“We are committed to finding solutions to address the expected power supply shortage during the summer months of 2015. We thank our customers for their positive response to our call by supporting the ILP,” said AP president and chief operating officer Antonio Moraza.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla earlier said the Department of Energy wants the ILP to free up as much as 1,000 MW in capacity to help ease the supply crunch, as reserves are seen fall short by about 300 to 1,000 MW this year. —Amy R. Remo