Energy department maintains power outlook but Meralco flags ‘upward’ rate pressure

By Victor V. Saulon – Sub-Editor – April 5, 2019 | 12:30 am
from Business World

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) has kept its power demand forecast for the dry season despite four straight days of “yellow” alert notices this week, saying the thinning power reserves did not change its expectations in the coming months.

However, distribution utility Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) expects an “upward pressure” in the price of electricity per kilowatt-hour in the monthly bill of consumers for March and April.

“Sapat ang supply ng kuryente for our summer outlook (Electricity supply is sufficient for our summer outlook),” said Energy Undersecretary William Felix B. Fuentebella in a press conference at the department’s head office in Taguig City on Thursday.

“I don’t think it will change a lot [from our] present outlook. What we are proposing is a weekly update on how we can adjust our actions to address the situation,” he added, describing the yellow alert notices as “isolated” cases.

A month ago, the DoE said it expected Luzon to reach a peak demand of 11,403 megawatts (MW) in May. The March-June period, when the country will experience a “weak” El Niño, is expected to see a 30% reduction in hydropower capacity to 983-1,776 MW.