Wednesday, November 12, 2008 LGUs ordered to reduce power consumption
LOCAL government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have been advised to do a "power cut" as austerity measures against the earlier forecasted power outages in the province likely to be experienced by Negrenses next year.
This as the problem on future power generation remains a subject of debates by various sectors, especially those opposing the geothermal power plant project of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC).
Governor Isidro Zayco said he already issued a memorandum urging all LGUs in the province to observe austerity measures by minimizing the use of electrical lightings, especially during the Christmas season.
"At the same time, this perhaps will prevent overloading of electricity use especially during peak hours from 6-9 o'clock in the evening," he said.
"We know that Christmas season is nearing and a lot of projects to highlight the tradition include having some lights on the trees and plazas...or anywhere. But in the light of crisis, we need to observe austerity so we can save especially on electricity," the governor added.
Concessionaires of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), whose source of power is geothermal, have been experiencing series of brownouts that observers claimed already signaled power shortage.
Earlier, the consumers group predicted that Negros will experience a severe power outage in two to three years time.
To prevent this scenario, the National Power Corporation will be providing the province 15 generator sets.
Meanwhile, Zayco said the Regional Development Council (RDC) met with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas where they mapped out measures on the controversial entry and construction of a coal-fired power plant within the city proper.
Zayco said they are now waiting for the fact-finding resolution of RDC's committee on environment and infrastructure as to the recommendations it will have for the City Government of Iloilo in as far as the putting up of a coal-fired plant is concerned.
Iloilo is solely dependent on bunker fuel or diesel as its major source of electricity while Negros is on geothermal type of power. (George dela Cruz)
