Cebu will continue to experience rotational brownouts - DOE executive

CEBU, Philippines – An official of the regional office of the Department of Energy admitted yesterday that Metro Cebu will continue experiencing rotating brownouts.

Engr. Rey Maliza, supervisor of DOE-7, relayed this information to reporters after a briefing with members of the provincial board about the power situation in Cebu.

Maliza said the power supply in Metro Cebu is short of 72 megawatts at present, thus, the rotating brownouts are expected to continue.

He further said it is ideal for the power industry to have reserve to keep the power supply stable in case one power plant shuts down.

He said that since 2001, no power plant has reportedly been utilized to answer the needs of power especially in Metro Cebu.

Maliza believes there is a need for more power plants here to answer the power shortage in the next five years.

Although the two 84-megawatt coal-fired power plants in Toledo City have already been tested, they still cannot supply power to the grid because they have yet to be turned over by the contractor, Formosa Heavy Industries Inc., to the Cebu Energy Development Corp. (CEDC).

The power plant in Naga City is not yet operational.   For her part, Ethel Natera of the Visayan Electric Company, said they are now intensifying their campaign for power conservation.

Natera said one way for customers to help in the present power shortage is to conserve electricity. Members of the Provincial Board agree to this sentiment. (THE FREEMAN)