Power Situation Remains Normal on Election Day

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As the entire country exercises the right to suffrage, the Power Task Force Election (PTFE), led by the Department of Energy (DOE), continues its 24-hour power monitoring to ensure adequate, stable and reliable electricity supply during the election period, while also employing quick response to address minor glitches in a few facilities.

In a press briefing held this afternoon in Quezon City, Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada announced that “power supply situation in the country is normal” despite occurrences of minor power incidents, which were immediately restored by technical personnel on standby. She also hoped that the power situation will remain stable until all votes have been canvassed.

During the briefing, National Power Corporation (NPC) President Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita reported that very brief power interruptions experienced in some missionary electrification areas did not impede at all the conduct of elections in over 300 Small Power Utilities Group areas. Moreover, Pres. Sta. Rita noted that its Agus-Pulangi hydro power facilities are in normal operation and the deployment of 72 gensets for use in missionary areas further augmented the power supply across the country.

In addition, Pres. Sta. Rita refuted the malicious rumor that NPC employees were on mandatory leave stressing that they were in fact, vigilantly monitoring its power facilities on a 24-hour basis as mandated for this election.

For the grid facilities, NGCP reported that the system recorded sufficient power supply in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as of today.

Sec. Monsada highlighted that the PTFE provides hourly updates with gross reserve in Luzon reaching as high as 4,000 MW considering the low demand during holiday. She added, however, that tomorrow (May 10), the PTFE expects power demand to shoot up to about 9,600 MW, but she is quick to note that power supply is still sufficient.

Power outlook for May 10, 2016:

	Luzon	Visayas	Mindanao
System Capacity (MW)	10,860	1,864	1,598
Demand (MW)	9, 637	1,800	1,520
Gross Reserve (MW)	1,223	64	78
Peak Demand Time	1:00p.m.-3:00p.m.	5:00p.m.-7:00p.m.	5:00p.m.-7:00p.m.

On the distribution side, the National Electrification Administration Administrator Edita S. Bueno said that a 24-hour monitoring is also being conducted at the NEA headquarters and in 120 electric cooperatives around the country. Administrator Bueno emphasized that there was no major adverse power situation that occurred and minor ones were promptly responded to.

Head of Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) System Control Primo P. Alonzo Jr. said that the power situation in its franchise area remains stable except for an isolated case where there were two burnt poles due to grass fire affecting one voting precinct. A power generator set and new poles were then quickly installed at around 12:00 noon.

Sec. Monsada further averred that while the power situation today is normal due to the synchronization of measures from the entire energy family, the PTFE will continue to monitor developments in the sector to fully contribute to the holding a clean and credible national and local elections.

The PTFE also enjoins the public to report any power disruption or untoward incident to the following contact details:

SMART: 0998-381-6167
GLOBE: 0917-541-4917

Moreover, power supply updates on Election Day will be published through the DOE’s Twitter account (@DOE_PH), Facebook account (www.facebook.com/doe.gov.ph) and the DOE website (www.doe.gov.ph), as well as in various social networking sites of the Election Power Task Force members at a designated time in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

Even without elections, the DOE continues to encourage all energy consumers to practice efficient and judicious use of electricity in their day-to-day activities.

Photo caption: From L-R: Gil Listano - Deputy Asst. Chief Tech Officer (DACTO) Operations and Maintenance, NGCP; Sonny Dimaliwat - DACTO, System Operations, NGCP; Gladys C. Sta. Rita - President, NPC; Zenaida Y. Monsada - Sec., DOE; Edita S. Bueno - Administrator, NEA; and Primo Alonzo Jr. - Head, System Control, MERALCO

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