Region’s power consumption continue to rise

CEBU, Philippines – Power consumption in Central Visayas continued to increase amid the rising economic activity, the National Economic and Development Authority said.

Efren Carreon, NEDA regional director, said the increased power demand is an indirect indicator of “the vibrancy of economic activities”  in the region.

According to a report from NEDA, power consumption in Region 7 rose by 5.46% in the first half of 2015, with households consuming more electricity.

The NEDA report showed that consumption of all types of electricity consumers — residential, commercial and industrial — increased in the first semester of the year, totaling to 1.9 billion Kilowatt-hour (Kwh) from 1.8 billion Kwh in the same period las year.

Consumption of households in the region reached 666.1 million Kwh. Commercial and industrial users consumed 335.4 million Kwh and 941.5 million Kwh, respectively.

Kilowatt-hour is an energy unit: one Kwh is equivalent to power consumption in one hour.

NEDA sourced the power consumption data from power distributors in Central Visayas.

Among the four provinces of the region, Carreon said Siquijor registered the highest growth in energy consumption in the first half at 12.40% to 7.1 million Kwh.

Cebu, however, continued to account for the bulk of power consumed in the region, with an 88% consumption share.

In the first six months of 2015, Cebu consumed 1.7 billion Kwh of electricity, a rise of 5.21% from a year ago level.

It was last year when the Department of Energy had mulled the creation of the Visayas Energy Plan to address the issue of energy security, an important element in sustaining economic development.

The DoE has been encouraging more investments in the power sector to keep up with the constantly increasing economic activity and electricity demand. — Carlo S. Lorenciana (FREEMAN)