The Department of Energy assured the public that it expects no red alerts and only a possible yellow alert for the Luzon grid for the rest of the year as the Philippines transitions into the rainy season.
“We are already seeing the change of the season from the hot season transitioning to the rainy season. So we can already feel the May rains. That means there is more water for the hydro plants and it will also signal lower demand,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.
The DOE issued the statement following recent red and yellow alerts last week that affected millions of consumers. The strain on the power grid was caused by multiple plant shutdowns and high demand due to soaring temperatures, aggravated by transmission line trippings that isolated several generating units.
Fuentebella said the power supply forecasts are based on coordination with the generation, transmission, and distribution sectors, as well as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
He added that there would be no red alerts or power outages as long as there are no forced outages and no transmission or distribution infrastructure failures.
Conversely, the Visayas grid continues to face power supply challenges. Fuentebella said six red alerts and seven yellow alerts are expected in the Visayas during evening peak hours.
“But it does not mean that there will be a power interruption because a yellow alert means that our reserves are depleted but there is sufficient supply,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mindanao is expected to experience about six yellow alerts during September, October, and November.
DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the red and yellow alerts may have a slight impact on consumer power rates next month.
“Potentially, because we were on red alert, we had to run the more expensive power plants, like the diesel power plants, because it was all hands on deck on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. So, potentially, there’s an increase, but these are very small plants. So, only a few megawatts were added to our generation mix,” Guevara said.
