State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) asked electric cooperatives across the country to prepare for the warm and dry season starting mid-March to April this year that could increase demand.
“It is expected that there will be increased electricity consumption and low hydropower capacity due to high temperatures and humidity in the next months,” NEA deputy administrator for technical services Ernesto Silvano said in a memorandum.
The agency directed the ECs to immediately submit manual load dropping (MLD) schedule to NEA and the Department of Energy in case of the declaration by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines of red alert status, and implement the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), where applicable.
It said ECs should prepare a warm and dry season action plan which shall set out concrete measures, preparatory activities, and contingency plans, especially in areas anticipated to be heavily affected by the dry spells and droughts.
It asked the ECs to gather and submit to NEA and DOE an inventory of generator sets in its franchise area including data on all critical infrastructures/facilities per feeder line.
The agency also urged the ECs to actively promote end-users the programs on energy efficiency and conservation, ILP, time-of-use/peak-off-peak and load shifting.
It ordered the ECs to provide continuous reliable and stable electric power supply to critical facilities through ensuring enough contracted capacities for energy to address possible increase in demand requirements.
The ECs were told to ensure that emergency response protocols and business continuity plans are updated and prioritize restoring power to critical and healthcare facilities in cases of power outages.
It directed the ECs to intensify vegetation management programs to eliminate or at least minimize power interruptions, exercise caution to increase awareness and understanding on preventing fire to lessen any potential negative effects to the public and encourage the public to take part in energy efficiency programs as initial defense against high electricity rates and potential power supply shortages.