THREE electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental have noted a total 10.7 megawatts (MW) reduction in power consumption during the Earth Hour on Saturday night, March 25.
Stakeholders from both public and private sectors in the province joined the one-hour switch off starting 8:30 p.m.
The annual activity, which started in Australia in 2007, is part of the global movement initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that demonstrates a commitment to fighting climate change.
The Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), which serves consumers in the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and the municipalities of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto, still had the biggest reduction of 4.6 MW.
Sulpicio Lagarde Jr., general manager of Ceneco, said the figure comprises only 3.8 percent of the utility’s average daily demand of 119 MW.
It is also lower than the 7.2-MW reduction during last year’s Earth Hour, he said.
“This year’s negligible reduction can be attributed to lesser participation and lack of awareness among consumers,” Lagarde said, adding that hotter temperature might also contribute as it triggers huge electric demand during this time.
A 2.9-MW reduction was noted by the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco), which caters to electricity consumers in the southern portion of the province, from Pulupandan to Hinoba-an.
Japhet Mapa, transmission and distribution manager of Noceco, said the reduction is only about six percent of the 47-MW maximum daily demand of the utility.
The figure is also slightly lower than the previous year’s three megawatts.
Mapa said this can be attributed to higher demand on a Saturday, where many areas they cover were having fiesta celebrations.
“Among the local government units catered by Noceco, we noted a huge participation by Kabankalan through switching off the street lights in the city,” he said, adding that the initiative, however, has resulted to several complaints from motorists.
The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco), on the other hand, noted a higher power reduction this year, 3.2 MW from the previous 2.3 MW.
Paul Almedelia, Corplan Department manager, said the reduction is mainly a result of the shutting down of a feeder which caused an “announced” power interruption in portions of Cadiz City.
Noneco caters to consumers in the north, from E.B. Magalona to San Carlos City.
“This year’s reduction still manifests a small participation in the Earth Hour,” he said, adding that the figure comprises only about two percent of the utility’s daily residential consumption requirement of 34 MWs.
All three electric distribution utilities in the province said they will intensify their campaign to increase the energy savings, not only during Earth Hour.
WWF, in its website, said that by going dark, local government, cities, companies, landmarks, and individuals send the message “that we will remain steadfast as we deliver the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.”
Themed “Shine a Light on Climate Action,” this year’s Earth Hour is a rallying cry for the world to come together in the fight against climate change by pushing towards a renewable energy future, it added.
In Bacolod City, personnel of SM City Bacolod along with convenors, environmental organizations, and local officials joined the Earth Hour event held at the mall’s north wing parking lot.
The event was highlighted by the “Lights Off” ceremony, where most of the lights at the mall were turned off simultaneously for at least one hour.
May Castro, SM City Bacolod public relations manager, said the ceremonial switch off is the commitment of SM management to a low-carbon footprint in its mall operations.
Castro said their participation in the annual Earth Hour movement is just one of the messages the mall shares to encourage its customers to also be part of the solution to combat climate change.
“All our malls take to heart sustainability efforts as the approach to environmental stewardship, with year-long initiatives that range from recycling to energy conservation, and making sure that we comply with international environmental codes,” she added.
For his part, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Negros Island Region Director Al Orolfo, who was also present during the activity, said the celebration goes beyond the Earth Hour, and can be done every day, every week, every month for the rest of the year.
“We must not rest our efforts there and continue to make people understand and that climate change is beyond political issue but rather a present phenomenon,” Orolfo added.
Councilor Em Ang, who represented Mayor Evelio Leonardia, said the city government through the City Council demonstrates its commitment by passing a resolution every year urging Bacolodnons to actively participate in the Earth Hour.
“For this year, the focus is on the role of young people in making the Philippines a climate change resilient country, which is but right because they are the ones to inherit this earth we are living,” Ang noted. (With reports from PIA)