DOE prepares for uninterrupted power supply during Lent

The Department of Energy (DOE) has drawn up contingency measures to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity over the Holy Week break.

DOE officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Melinda Ocampo said a directive has been issued to all attached DOE agencies, such as the National Power Corp. (Napocor), National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

Ocampo also called on Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the country’s 119 electric cooperatives nationwide to double their efforts to ensure that their operations will run smoothly over the long break.

Meralco corporate communications head Elpi Cuna Jr. said they will field teams that will monitor the power situation throughout its franchise area over the Holy Week break.

In a memorandum addressed to the Napocor, TransCo and NEA, Ocampo instructed these agencies to initiate all the measures necessary to ensure the reliability of electricity services during the holiday.

"(Energy) Secretary Raphael Lotilla instructed me to (assure) the public that their observance of the Lenten season will be as convenient and as comfortable as possible," Ocampo said.

Ocampo has instructed Napocor and TransCo to appoint an "officer of the day" who will ensure that there is no disruption of power generation and transmission operations over the Holy Week.

She said the officer of the day must monitor the systems conditions and organize and dispatch response crews in case of any emergency.

TransCo must intensify its inspection and field monitoring activities, aerial patrols and thermal scanning of critical transmissions lines. Its linemen must be on stand-by to conduct immediate corrections at hot spots.

"I am also calling on Meralco and (all) electric cooperatives nationwide to implement a scheme that would boost their system reliability and avoid trippings and technical trouble," she said.

"During this time, most families flock to their provinces and we want to make sure that they will have a comfortable and pleasant holiday, especially at the height of the summer season," she added.

"Thousands of motorists are expected to troop to the provinces to take advantage of the long holiday," Ocampo also said.– Donnabelle Gatdula