Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares grilled Energy Department Secretary Jericho Petilla through the department’s sponsor Rep Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga. The secretary was unable to provide information and explanation regarding the much-hyped need for emergency powers to be given to the President to address what Petilla claims a looming power crisis. To escape the heat of discussion, Petilla then asked for a separate briefing for Cong Colmenares.
Based on the data of the Department of Energy (DOE) the installed capacity for Luzon grid is: 12,790MW and dependable capacity is: 11,469MW. While Colmenares pointed out that the peak demand for the grid is just at 8,700MW plus (this happens on summer – May in particular) — and the portion of Meralco in that is at 6,121MW (based on 2014 figures)
Last month, Rep. Colmenares said, “Deducting dependable capacity from peak demand, there should have been allowance for reserves amounting to 2,700MW. This is more than the 400 MW deficit that Sec. Petilla claims. Based on the DOE figures itself, even in a tight supply condition, there should be more than enough supply,”
It can be remembered that a collusion of power plant shutdowns occurred late December last year. Colmenares has requested for a collusion report from the Energy Regulatory Commission, but he said through a statement that his office is yet to receive any report from the ERC over the Malampaya shutdown. “The Meralco rate increased because of the plant shutdowns during the Malampaya turnaround. Now the DOE claims a shortage of supply because of more plant shutdowns in 2015,” added Senior Deputy Minority Leader Colmenares.
“Also by early 2015, Avion power plant, South Luzon Tech Coal and Pililla Wind would be on the grid, why is it that the DOE is not factoring them in? Now, even if there would be a shortfall of electricity the government can still tap state-owned power plants like the Malaya power plant and the Sucat power plant. These power plants should be immediately rehabilitated and recommissioned instead of being sold to the private sector. The DOE has not even considered renewable energy and even the demand side of the equation,” he added.
“As it is, even with just the Malaya power plant alone running its full dependable capacity at 610 MW, it can already offset the supposed power deficit of 400 MW being aired by Sec. Petilla. As of now only contrived plant shutdowns would be the only reason for a power crisis,” said Rep. Colmenares
Malampaya Fund
Another congressman of Bayan Muna, Representative Carlos Zarate hypothesized that the push for granting Aquino emergency powers to address a power crisis is in the Palace to tap the Malampaya Fund, which usage has earlier been restricted by a November 2013 decision of the Supreme Court.
“This emergency power is even probably designed so that Malacanang can dip its fingers again on the Malampaya fund,” said Zarate.
In 2012, the total disbursement for the Malampaya fund was P1,988,861,066.00 with the Department of Defense (DND) and the DOF-NEA electrification as the only two agencies which accessed it.
“Malaki na talaga ang napupunta sa military use mula sa Malampaya funds sa halip na sa dapat talagang paggamitan nito,” said the progressive solon. “Kung ginastos itong Malampaya fund sa pag-develop ng energy industry,baka makatulong pa sa pagpababa ng kuryente o pag-lessen ng brown outs. This kind of spending is what makes pork barrel, especially presidential pork barrel, anomalous,” said Zarate.
In the past weeks, allies of President Aquino in the lower house have declared readiness to vest upon the President emergency powers to address a looming power crisis which Secretary Petilla declared on several occasions.
