DOE seeks more ILP participants

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to seek participants for the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to help avert blackouts this summer, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said.

 “In times like this, we need the collective effort and assistance of those who are willing to extend their hands. Our search has never been in vain. In fact, ILP participants have been growing, reflecting the private sector’s role in this initiative,” Petilla said.

Under the ILP scheme, big power users will be asked to run their own generators when supply is short in the summer months, instead of getting their power from the Luzon grid. In exchange, they will be compensated for their fuel costs.

The electricity that would not be taken from the grid would be available to households and other users, sparing them from rotating blackouts.

There is a projected power supply shortage this summer of at least 700 megawatts (MW) due to higher demand during the summer months.

At least 38 establishments with a total combined capacity of 197.56 MW have already been committed to the ILP through Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s biggest power distributor.

The three largest participants are SM Prime Holding Inc., the mall development arm of the SM Group with 57.96 MW, Robinsons Land Corp., the property development arm of the Gokongwei Group with capacity of 23.15 MW and Waltermart Malls with 14.30 MW.

In addition, there have been expressions of commitment for signing between the contestable customers and the respective retail electricity suppliers (RES) at 408 MW, Petilla said.

He urged more participants to commit to the program and be part of the solution to the imminent power shortage this summer.

As early as December 2013, the DOE has called on Meralco for the introduction of the ILP as a last resort. By July 2014, the power distribution company was able to sign up a total of 115 MW.

Petilla said that several meetings and invitations have been scheduled to secure more participants before the end of the January.