PSALM hikes power capacity of Mindanao co-ops

By Lenie Lectura -April 14, 2020
from Business Mirror

THE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) said it has increased the power allocation of two Mindanao electric cooperatives (ECs) to help them provide uninterrupted service for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The state-run firm said Tuesday that Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc. (LASURECO) and Maguindanao Electric Cooperative Inc. (MAGELCO) were provided with a total of 59.88 megawatts (MW), from 26.8 MW.

From 16.8 MW, LASURECO’s power capacity for April was increased to 42 MW while MAGELCO’s 10 MW was also hiked to 17.88 MW.

“Overall, the two electric cooperatives will net a 59.88 megawatts capacity for the month of April 2020 as a temporary emergency measure, especially to make sure that the hospitals and frontline services in their area will not experience any power outages,” said PSALM.

This move is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 11469, or “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” and the memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated March 28 that mandates government agencies to implement emergency measures in support of the ECQ.

As a government-owned and -controlled corporation cognizant of its critical role in the power sector, PSALM has been strictly adhering to Section 4 (u) of RA 11469, authorizing the conservation, and regulation of the distribution and use of electricity amid the public health crisis brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

It is noted that PSALM has 54 power customers in Mindanao composed of electric cooperatives, industrial entities, private and government corporations.

MAGELCO registered 44,156 member consumers and LASURECO has 63,003.