Deloading program eases impact of power shortage

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial government and the Visayan Electric Company acknowledges the big help of the Interruptible Load Agreement and the companies that have participated in the program in the alleviation of the present situation of energy supply deficiency in the province.

This is why the two parties are hoping to have more private entities join in the program while permanent solutions are being arranged to address the concern.

Ethel Natera, the corporate communications officer of VECO said that they hope to ink more partnerships with big entities in the city most especially since through the program they are able to save a lot of energy that would be distributed in different areas when needed.

The agreement, which started last March 31, 2009, works as stakeholders agree to deload from VECO and other distribution utilities when the need arises where these big power consumers are asked to generate their own power whenever there is a shortage of supply.

VECO for their part pays the customer compensation for full or partial deloading when they deload from VECO as requested.

Initially, big entities showed their support like San Miguel Corporation, SM, Ayala Center Cebu, Waterfront Hotel, Gaisano Country Mall, Metro Ayala, Metro Colon, AD Gothong, Metro Mandaue and Gaisano Main.

Now, more companies have joined including Coca-Cola, Sky Rise 1 in IT Park in Lahug, J.King (Club Ultima), Innodata, Marco Polo Plaza, Universal Feeds, Parkmall, IPI, Oakridge Realty, Sunpride, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in a recent interview said that the agreement has been very effective and is in fact one of the temporary solutions that they have seen to address the situation.

Garcia said that while they are still finding means to give permanent solution, they see temporary means, like the interruptible load agreement as a big help to mitigate power outages in the whole province.