Panay power shortage feared
ILOILO CITY – The continuous supply of power to all electric power cooperatives, distribution utilities and directly connected customers in Panay Island having existing contracts with the National Power Corporation (Napocor) is now threatened due to the turning over of successfully bided diesel power plants in Bohol and Panay that will be turned over to its new private owners on March 26, 2009.
It was feared that the impending turn over of the diesel plants in Dingle, Iloilo would effect a shortage of about 54 megawatts in Panay alone and the shortage will happen during the time of highest demand especially during the summer months.
City mayor Jerry P. Trenas said that with the turnover of Panay Diesel Power Plant 1 and 3 to its new owners Salcon Corp., it was feared that the power supply will be greatly affected in areas receiving power from Napocor.
Iloilo City is getting 15 megawatts from Napocor for its direct interconnection agreement between Panay Electric Company (PECO) and Napocor which Napocor has not fulfilled for quite sometime.
Trenas said he will be reporting to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her visit to Iloilo on March 3 regarding the real power situation here and the frequent power outages that bogged the business sector and other power users.
An estimated power demand of this city in April 2009 is 76MW but there is a reduced capability of Napocor for PECO with 9MW. The total capability of generator Panay Power Corporation (PPC) for PECO is only 70MW assuming there is no breakdown of PPC plants.
The total capability of Napocor and PPC for PECO is only 79MW by posting a 3 MW margin for reserve.
Trenas said the reserve is still lacking and the city and the whole Panay Island will continue to suffer frequent power brownouts.
Possible solutions may include the assignment of additional power barge in Iloilo, possibly from Mindanao and the delay and holding back of the turn over of the dingle power plants this coming March 26 to a date when additional sources of power have been identified and contracted.
Other possible solution includes the Department of energy’s supply Augmentation Program that provides an avenue where power suppliers and generators may come in and sell their power at True Cost within a framework similar to WESM.
By Lydia C. Pendon
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Panay Electric company.
I am aware that my neighbors are steeling your power with their own lines. they have been fined before of P30,000 but no pay. We are at Benedicto STREET. am sick of loud music stolen from your power. can you permanentlyb pull their plug? a lot of people on this street steeling electric.