2-fold electrification approach adopted

CEBU, Philippines - Considering electricity as one of the key drivers of economic growth and poverty alleviation, the Department of Energy is pushing for its availability, accessibility, affordability and sustainability in all households.

Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson said the government believes that without access to sustainable energy, there could be no sustainable economic development. In support of the shift towards a sustainable energy path, DOE has crafted a six-year energy reform agenda which serves as its strategic action plan to provide energy accessibility.

She noted that in the electric value chain, energy accessibility focuses on the growing demand for electricity as it ensures consumers in meeting their energy requirements while affordability and availability address the supply side in which diversified energy sources are available at reasonable prices.

In its vision to have 90% household electrification by 2017 and 100% sitio electrification by 2015, she said the government has a two-fold approach which is the grid extension and the use of sustainable renewable resources for off-grid electrification.

As of June 2012, the country’s household and sitio electrification levels are at 76.7% and 71% respectively. In 2011, DOE and National Electrification Administration (NEA) provided electricity access to about 33,650 households wherein 30,200 were covered by NEA while the other 3, 450 households were DOE beneficiaries using renewable energy.

Ayson pointed out that energy accessibility does not end with such figures since for the period of 2012 to 2016, about 4,554, 615 households will be pursued to be given electricity access to achieve the 88% household electrification in 2016.

DOE also intends to energize 29, 100 households from 2012 to 2017 while NEA targets 30, 921 sitios from 2012 to 2015 that is equivalent to 927,630 households to attain the 100% sitio electrification.

To promote energy affordability, DOE’s National Energy Efficiency Conservation Program promotes the use of energy efficient household electrical products, calibrated phase—out of inefficient technologies such as the shift from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps, and the “Bright Now! Do right! Be Bright!” campaign aiming towards the advocacy in energy conservation, public education on energy efficiency and upliftment of the image of DOE as the energy manager in the country.

Through NEECP, the Philippines was able to save 27.48 million barrels of fuel equivalent to P149 billion last year which was about 11% higher than the 2010 savings of 24.80 million barrels.

Moreover, DOE has formulated the Power Development Program outlining the strategic roadmap for the power sector to ensure the delivery of reliable and quality electricity supply. For 2011 update, around 15,572 megawatts of new capacities are needed to meet the demand and reserve requirements for electrical power until year 2030.

Of these, Ayson cited that 1,172 MW of additional capacities are already committed power projects while the remaining 14, 400 MW is still open for private sector investments.

She added that the government is geared towards the diversification from conventional fuels to indigenous renewable and more environment-friendly energy resources to mitigate climate change. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/FPL

“The path to sustainable development is challenging and platforms like the this forum should not be seen as just another event but as an excellent opportunity to tackle the challenges and initiate achievable actions on sustainable energy development,” she stated during the 2nd Philippine Energy Efficiency Forum 2012 in Cebu held yesterday at Radisson Blu Hotel. —(FREEMAN)