DOE applies measures to avert power interruptions amid El Niño, dry season

The power sector is implementing measures to avoid possible power interruptions amid the impact of the El Niño phenomenon and dry season on the country, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan said the agency is not seeing any possible rotational power interruptions at present.

“Gusto po natin ay huwag magkaroon ng interruption ang ating serbisyo ng kuryente. Sa ngayon, wala po tayong nakikita na posibleng rotational brownout,” Marasigan said.

(We want our electricity supply to have no interruption. Right now, we don't see any possible rotational brownout.)

“Napaghandaan po natin yan at lahat po ng ating participants sa electric power industry ay pinaghandaan po. Alam naman po natin na sa mga lumipas na mga panahon ito po ay nangyari na, kung kaya naghanda na po ng mitigating measures,” he added.

(We and all our participants in the electric power industry have prepared for that. We have experienced power issues in the past so have prepared mitigating measures this time.)

Due to the high heat index being felt in the country due to the El Niño and dry season, Marasigan said the agency is expecting that there will be an increase in the demand for power supply.

According to him, the DOE already advised stakeholders to prepare in case a yellow alert is raised over the Luzon Grid, which indicates that the grid has thin reserves.

“Tayo po ay nagbigay na ng mga abiso sa ating mga stakeholders sa power industry upang paghandaan ang pagkakataon nga po na sakaling dumating na magkaroon tayo ng yellow alert,” he said.

(We have given notices to our stakeholders in the power industry to prepare for the possible yellow alert status in the Luzon Grid.)

“Inaalerto na po natin yung ating mga participants ng interruptible load program—yun ho bang gagamitin ay pansarili nilang mga generators—samantalang ang ibang consumers naman ay gagamit ng kuryente na  nasa linya natin,” he added.

(We are already alerting our participants of the interruptible load program—those who will use their own generators—while other consumers will use the electricity on our line,

Aside from power reserves, Marasigan said the hot weather could also affect the lines of electric supply. Due to this, maintenance is also being conducted. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News