THE Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. (PIPPA) said on Thursday that its members are hoping to resolve the problem of power plant outages “in the soonest possible time.”
“We comply with the no-planned-maintenance rule during the summer months. We make sure our plants run as efficiently as possible. It is in our best interest to ensure that we are operating and that there is stable supply,” PIPPA President Anne E. Montelibano said via Viber.
“Our members are working hard to resolve the issues and to bring those plants back to operation in the soonest possible time,” she added.
PIPPA consists of 28 members with a combined installed capacity of about 18,132 megawatts (MW).
On Wednesday, the Luzon grid was placed on yellow alert — the first such notice this year — due to the increase in forecast demand and power plant forced outages.
According to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, peak demand hit 11,829 MW, against available capacity of 12,488 MW.
A total of 3,362.3 MW was unavailable to the grid after 12 power plants declared forced outages while 16 plants are running on derated capacities.
Earlier this week, the DoE urged the public to adopt energy efficiency measures to manage consumption and ensure the stability of supply as temperatures rise with the onset of the dry season.
“The summer months are characterized by higher energy demand, primarily driven by the increased use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners, electric fans and refrigerators. Without mindful consumption, this surge could strain the power grid, potentially leading to supply challenges and price fluctuations in the spot market,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.
The DoE demand forecast this year projects highs of 14,769 megawatts (MW) for Luzon, 3,111 MW for the Visayas, and 2,789 MW for Mindanao.
Actual peak demand last year was 14,016 MW for Luzon on April 24; 2,681 MW for the Visayas on May 21; and 2,577 MW for Mindanao on May 22.
The maximum adjusted available generating capacity for Luzon was reported at 15,504 MW, the Visayas 3,040 MW, and Mindanao 3,314 MW in the Grid Operating Maintenance Program 2025-2027, which incorporates output from committed power projects for 2025.
“By making simple adjustments in daily routines, consumers can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient use of electricity, helping to prevent power interruptions and ensuring that energy resources remain sufficient throughout the summer season,” Mr. Lotilla said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera