Business and Economy
Public urged to conserve energy during Malampaya shutdown
Public urged to conserve energy during Malampaya shutdown (Photo by Peter150 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0)
During the maintenance shutdown, the natural gas facility will undergo repairs on the underwater asset which leaks every time it is put offline; minor engineering upgrade to make collecting natural gas efficient; and additional safety features to protect both the plant and the workers.
Although the DOE assures the public that power supply will be adequate during the shutdown, consumers are encouraged to practice demand-side management meaning, every household must also do their share in conserving energy.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi explained, “Demand-side management is one of the measures that we are encouraging our consumers to practice. By doing this, our energy consumption is made more efficient and economical, with the beneficial effect ultimately reflected and felt through our electric bills.”
The Malampaya shutdown will affect other power plants that run on natural gas. Some of these plants will require the use of diesel fuel which is more expensive than natural gas in order to operate. Diesel costs Php 6-8 per kilowatt hour while natural gas costs Php 4.00 per kilowatt hour.
Consumers who are serviced by power plants affected by the shutdown should expect an increase in their electric bills unless they take it upon themselves to practice simple, appliance-focused energy saving tips developed by the DOE through the Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB)
Reducing the use of lights by 1 hour each day will result in a reduced power consumption by 0.45 kilowatt hour (kWh) or a savings of Php 4.94 per month.
Reducing the use of the television from 10 hours to only 9 hours each day translates to a reduction of power consumption by 1.80 kWh or a savings of up to Php19.80 per month.
The Energy Department encourage consumers to avoid the frequent, unnecessary opening and closing of the refrigerator. This will reduce power consumption by 2.59 kWh or a savings of up to PhP 28.40 per month.
Reducing the use of the air-conditioning by up to 2 hours each day will cut down power consumption by 30.50 kWh or up to Php 346.50 savings per month.
The Malampaya maintenance shutdown will only last for 20 days but the public is still encouraged to make energy conservation a habit even after the natural gas facility is operational again. “When energy-efficiency becomes second-nature to us, we are able to cushion whatever impact may be caused by spikes in the cost of electricity.” Cusi added.
