ERC seeks PCCI help to shore up shaky power supply

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Monday called on the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for help in encouraging their members to take part in the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) or to use their generator sets in times of supply shortage to help avoid rotational brownouts.

Through the ERC’s ILP, large-demand electricity consumers may enter into an agreement with their distribution utility on their voluntary and temporary disconnection from the power grid whenever the power supply is tight. The regulator is rallying business establishments to join the program in light of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) projection that the Luzon grid may have insufficient reserve power generation capacity or demand may altogether outstrip available capacity in the coming weeks.

Based on the DOE’s supply and demand outlook as of June 23, capacity reserves would be critically thin in the third week of July and first week of August.

“The ILP also allows customers to operate their generating sets and collectively reduce electricity drawn from the grid when power interruptions are imminent,” Agnes Devanadera, chair of the ERC, said in a statement.

Under the ILP, companies who are willing to participate will be requested to reduce their demand for particular hours in a day when the power supply in the system is not enough.

“We seek the assistance and support of the PCCI to encourage their members… to participate in the ILP to help augment the limited power supply,” Devanadera said. INQ