President orders DOE to review power demand and supply for next year

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MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III has instructed the Department of Energy (DOE) to review the projected demand and supply of electricity in Luzon for 2015, as well as all available options to deal with a possible power shortfall in the summer months, the Palace said on Thursday.

“Ongoing pa iyong pag-aaral at ilalahad ang pagpapasya ng Pangulo kapag nakumpleto na ang pag-aaral na hiningi niya hinggil dito,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. during the daily press briefing.

The DOE has projected that there will be a power shortage from March to May next year, as the demand for electricity increases during summer.

Coloma also assured that the government would not pass on to consumers the costs of increasing next year’s power supply, as what happened in the early 1990s.

“Siya (Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla) na mismo ang nagsasabi na base sa kanyang simulations, hindi naman ito inaasahang hahantong sa mas mataas na pagsingil,” he said.

“Ibang iba naman ang sitwasyon noon dahil mas malawak at malalim ang kakulangan noong panahong iyon. Ngayon naman ay limited extent and limited duration lamang ang ina-address ni Secretary Petilla,” he added.

The Communication Secretary said that the government will ensure a stable power supply at reasonable rates for next year.

“Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, ang isasaalang-alang ng pamahalaan ay ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan at ang hindi pagpataw ng dagdag na pabigat sa kanila dahil dito,” he said.