Petilla urges public to save on power costs

MANILA, Philippines - Christmas lights may have to start blinking later than usual this year as the Department of Energy steps up efforts to enjoin the public to practice energy conservation measures.

“Maybe we can start Dec. 1 instead of November. We can always enjoy it without having too many lights,” Sen. Serge Osmeña, chairman of the Senate committee on energy, said during a hearing yesterday on the DOE’s budget.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said the department continues to explore various energy efficiency measures to determine which ones will work best.

As figures come to rise for additional capacity to address the looming power shortage, this becomes the best time to enjoin the public to practice energy conservation measures, he said.

The DOE said the efficient use of power translates energy consumption reduction to peso savings.

Energy conservation can take simple ways: use of LED technology, inverters and setting to 25 degrees cooling system. The following energy saving measures are on the DOE Department Circular (DC) 2004-08-0014 enjoining all electricity-consuming sectors to implement demand-side management program and other energy conservation measures.

The circular, signed last Aug. 11 urges all sectors to implement energy conservation measures to reduce the country’s demand for supply of electricity.

The circular, however excludes hospitals, military installations, and airports among other facilities.

Under the circular, the Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) shall develop and implement various electricity demand-side management programs and projects nationwide including a system of incentives and penalties for same, after a series of public consultations.

EUMB director Patrick T. Aquino noted that the measure includes government offices and government owned and controlled corporations.

“Energy conservation must be keenly practiced in order to secure a steady supply of energy in the country… as we develop awareness on energy efficiency and utilization must be prioritized to produce confident, well-informed and responsible electricity-consumers,” said Aquino.

The DOE, through the EUMB, Electricity Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) and the Office of the Secretary currently have four teams working and moving around government offices to do energy audit to help out on energy efficiency efforts.