The need to address rising costs and unreliable supply of electricity
Deja vu. As temperatures rise, we cannot help but feel that we are in a “strangely familiar” situation with a little twist. Last year, after Pag-asa announced the occurrence of El Niño, the Department of Energy (DOE) declared that there’s enough electricity supply. Weeks after such a declaration, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) announced red and yellow alerts that were later followed by a declaration of an electricity crisis at the end of April.
The NGCP’s announcement that it cannot assure the public of a brownout-free dry season contradicts the DOE forecast, and it was later proven right.
Amid the threat of supply shortage, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) warned consumers of higher electricity rates due to rising temperatures. Electricity rates just increased this February due to the generation charge and the ERC’s approval of the universal charge and fit-all tariff. For us consumers, paying more for electricity trumps praying that it would be available the next day.
During last year’s House hearing, the NGCPs shared its Grid Alert Profile which reported that 96 percent or 226 out of 234 system red alerts declared from the said period were directly attributable to generation failure, such as unplanned and generation shutdowns.
Dry season, red and yellow alerts, and higher electricity rates are expected. As sure as the sun rises, these events are predictable but every time they happen, we seem helpless. Sadly, the inability of our leaders in the power sector to address this sick cycle is predictable as well.
If the power situation this year were to be worse than the electricity crisis declared last year, there is a chance that the committee on energy of the Lower House will conduct a hearing even before the Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. The blame game is sure to occur at the hearing, but at the end of the day, no one will be held accountable. We consumers would be left to cope with the stress brought on by the threat of power outages and additional charges on our electricity bill.
We’ve been calling the attention of the DOE to once and for all effectively address energy insufficiency especially during the dry season. We’ve reiterated the adverse impact of power shortage on our work, in our businesses, and pockets. Schools, as we have seen, will move to alternative learning modes. With the heat index expected to reach 50 degrees Celsius, we have nowhere to run and hide from the heat.
Not to mention, there’s the midterm elections in May. We’re fervently hoping that election day would be spared power outages that could complicate an already volatile political situation.
The power sector is aiming for maximum efficiency in the context of sustainable development and justice through the implementation of the Philippine Energy Plan. It has a long way to go, and we consumers are bound to feel the difficulties of the process.
Leaders in the power sector must come up with effective, lasting, affordable, and reliable solutions to protect consumers while the energy plan’s implementation gets underway.
The ERC and the DOE must make NGCP perform its duty to ensure ancillary services. We urge the ERC to seriously investigate the incidents of habitual shutdowns as reported by the NGCP. We need accountability and must end the impunity in the energy sector. No one will follow the rules if no one cares to implement them. This is the folly of our regulators.
As the heat rages on, we can only call on these agencies to act in the Filipinos’ best interest. We cannot wait until hell freezes over for the DOE to efficiently do its job.
Bas Umali,
national coordinator,
Kuryente.org
