No power interruption despite yellow alert on Luzon grid —DOE

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday assured the public that there would be no power interruptions despite placing the Luzon grid under yellow alert.

"Wala po tayong nakikitang power interruption base sa supply kahit may yellow alert," DOE spokesman Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella said in a report by Lei Alviz on GMA's Unang Balita.

The DOE official, however, admitted that new power plants are needed to ensure good supply of electricity.

"We have to really come up with newer plants because most of our plants are aging already," he said.

Yellow alert was raised over Luzon grid due to the thinning reserves amid the unplanned shutdown of some power plants.

A yellow alert is raised when reserve power is below the required level or if a grid has thin reserves based on the difference between supply and demand.

When a yellow alert is raised, it is expected that the price of electricity in the wholesale electricity spot market will increase.

"'Yung natural tendency ng market is to increase prices. However, meron po tayong mechanisms sa market para hindi naman unreasonably high 'yung prices natin," said Andrea Caguete, assistant manager of Market Information Modelling of Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines.

The DOE, meanwhile, advised the public to conserve energy by providing them tips about wise usage of appliances. — Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM, GMA News