DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi
MANILA – The Department of Energy (DOE) has rejected the request of some power generation firms to shut down their generating units as electricity demand significantly declined in Luzon and Visayas during the enhanced community quarantine.
“A decline in power demand does not mean that operations could and should be put to rest. In fact, as we battle the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) crisis, now is the time for us to double our efforts to ensure that we can provide sufficient and continuous electricity services to each and every household, as well as across key industries of our country," DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement Thursday.
In a notice dated March 23, the DOE reiterated that the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) shall continue its normal operations, while all trading participants shall observe their obligations under the WESM Rules and Market Manuals by submitting offers in the WESM.
The DOE does not allow generation companies to cease operations of generating units unless it is for planned maintenance and forced outages due to technical problems.
“I am calling for the utmost cooperation and compliance of our industry participants at this time,” Cusi said.
The department has also called on the Market Surveillance Committee and Enforcement and Compliance Office to closely monitor the compliance of WESM trading participants.
“These are trying times so we need to work together in the spirit of Bayanihan to provide the necessary services to our people,” Cusi added.
Due to the enhanced community quarantine declared in the entire island of Luzon last March 17, many business establishments, including some factories and malls, shut down their operations.
DOE data show that combined electricity consumption of commercial and industrial sectors reached more than 50 percent of total consumption in the country, while the residential sector’s consumption is around 28 percent. (PNA)
