THE Mactan Electric Co. (Meco) is also implementing rotating brownouts because of the power shortage in the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) grid.
Meco services power consumers in Mactan Island.
In Metro Cebu, Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) implemented rotating brownouts in its service area last night after the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) asked it to drop 65.7 megawatts (mw) from its load due to a 140-mw shortfall in the Visayas grid.
In the morning, the expected shortage in the power supply was at 100mw while the afternoon shortfall was at 120mw.
Due to limited power generation in the grid, Veco had to drop its supply during peak hours by 46.9mw in the morning and 52.1mw in the afternoon.
Meco general manager Gilbert Pagobo blamed the shortfall on Cebu’s increasing power demand and absence of a new power plant in the last 10 years.
Pagobo, however, sees improvement soon. He said the two power stations nearing completion in Toledo City and Korean Electric Power Corp.’s plant in Naga will address power shortage in the Visayas.
Pagobo said there will be a steady power supply this coming election as a number of industries will be closed on that day.
He said most power generators are currently conducting regular maintenance of their plants to make it efficient in time for the May election.
Pagobo said Meco supplies 48mw power to 62,000 households in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town. This excludes Mactan Export Zone (MEZ) I, which is supplied by East Asia Utilities, and MEZ II, which is supplied by National Power Corp.
Pagobo said the increased demand for power usually happens from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. But the peak demand period is between 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It is usually during these periods when electric companies are asked to drop loads.
He said NGCP usually advises Meco to drop 4.4mw. (OCP)