‘Red alert’ on power supply expected – DOE

It is expected that there will be a “red alert” or thin power supply next week.

This was said by Director Mario Marasigan, director of the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (DOE), at the Senate Committee on Energy of Sen. Win Gatchalian.

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Marasigan explained that the red alert is expected in the coming week or on June 24 and can last until week 30 or until the next six weeks.

Based on the data they obtained from the National Grid Corporation, the maintenance of the power plants will be simultaneous.

During a red alert, brownouts are expected, but Marasigan clarified that they do not immediately say that brownouts are potential because they have mechanisms in place.

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Early this month, a consumer group explicitly blamed the energy department for the rotational brownouts in Luzon.

Laban Konsyumer president Vic Dimagiba said that as of April 15, the DOE already knew a red alert on the Luzon grid from May 28 to June 10.

‘Red alert’ on power supply expected – DOE

According to Dimagiba, the DOE should have monitored the listed plants and looked into why there is a power interruption even though it is clear in the guidelines that there should be none from April to June.

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“Yang 3 buwan sa isang taon na ‘yan, dapat free ‘yan, walang plantang nagmi-maintain, ginawa mo na ‘yung maintenance mo before or after this 3-month period, di nila ginawa ‘yun dahil ‘yung nakaambang forecast [binalewala]. Anong klaseng trabaho ‘yun?” said Dimagiba.

“Hindi sana ito nangyari kung ginawa ng DOE ‘yung kanyang mandate, ‘yung kanyang trabaho,” he added.

Even Sen. , chairman of the  energy panel, is convinced the DOE should be blamed for the power supply glitch.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi apologized for the rotating brownout and denied that he neglected his job due to politics.

“Those power plants broke down na nagkataon naman po, natiyempo na we have a meeting in Cebu. But it doesn’t mean na napapabayaan ko because I’m not the only guy that is running DOE,” said .

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