Veco’s program gains support
Monday, February 22, 2010
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LIMITED power supply in the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid has caused rampant power outages in the franchise area of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco). For months, Cebu has had rotational brownouts to stabilize the region’s power supply system.
One of Veco’s proactive solutions to this problem is the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), which was initiated and designed by Veco two years ago. This was in anticipation of the power supply shortage Veco foresaw.
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In 2009, the total power supply shortfall amounted to about six million kilowatt-hours. Because of the ILP, Veco saved three million kilowatt-hours. This allowed Veco to minimize the rotational brownouts from two hours to just one hour.
The ILP taps participating customers to fully or partially de-load by using their own generator sets, thus sparing other customers from being hit by rotational power outages.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is working on the proposed rules for a similar scheme to be implemented by other distribution utilities in the Philippines.
One proposal calling for the compensation of the participants of the scheme, patterned after the Veco ILP rules and regulations, was approved for the company last June 2009. Other distribution utilities throughout the Philippines are expected to follow Veco’s initiative.
“The ILP is an effective program that will help balance the supply and demand for electricity. It will help eliminate serious supply shortfalls that can adversely affect the socio-economic well-being of affected communities,” said ERC chairperson Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has expressed enthusiasm for the program by meeting with power industry players and Veco’s big power consumers. She encourages big power users, including those from the business sector, to fulfill their civic duties for the Cebuanos by joining the ILP. The Provincial Capitol Building is an active participant of the program.
The ILP was implemented in April 2009. It has gathered 26 members.
Together with the public sector, through the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, both the government and the business community continue to keep the Cebuano community alight. (PR)
