By Mario Casayuran
The Senate energy committee assured the nation Saturday that there would be no power shortage this summer, particularly during the coming May 13 mid-term elections.
Having power shortage throughout the country even during the current El Nino phenomenon ‘’is a remote possibility,’’ Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, committee chairman, said in a DWIZ radio interview Saturday.
Linemen do maintenance work at an electric post in Manila. Power distributor Meralco call on the public to be energy edfficient especially during the summer months. (MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETIN)
Electric power from hydropower plants and the entry of other forms of energy are kicking in in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, he explained.
Mindanao, which experienced power brownouts the past three to four years ago, now has an excess of 1,000 megawatts (MWs), Gatchalian said.
There are fears of power shortages in Luzon because the water levels at hydroelectric power plants are decreasing because of intense heat triggered by the El Nino phenomenon.
Gatchalian said he and the Department of Energy (DOE) are aware of the need for a stable power supply during elections because the country uses electronic machines to tally votes.
He said the DOE did some simulations on a possible power shortage.
‘’Handa ang DOE . We have almost 6,000 MW that entered our grids last few years,’’ he said, referring to a briefing he got from the DOE the other day. (The DOE is ready).
Gatchalian said ‘’the energy picture (for the Philippines) is very good.’’
He pointed out that the erection of power plants, including the renewable energy plants, continue as planned.