March 29 ------ The Department of Energy (DOE) called on power consumers in Luzon to conserve energy while natural gas generation plants will be on scheduled maintenance shutdown during the upcoming weekends.
In a statement, the DOE said power generating facilities —South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC) and Excellent Energy Resources Inc. (EERI) — jointly owned by Meralco PowerGen, San Miguel Global Power, and Aboitiz Power will be conducting scheduled maintenance from 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, until 6:30 a.m. on Monday, March 31.
Despite the planned shutdown, the DOE, citing the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), said that it was initially assessed that “there will be no expected yellow or red alerts during this period, although the event may temporarily push spot market prices upward.” “This temporary shutdown is necessary to facilitate mechanical activities at Linseed Field Corporation’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, a crucial step towards completing its first onshore LNG storage tank by the end of April this year,” the Energy Department said. “The LNG terminal is expected to resume sending out gas, enabling EERI to synchronize to the grid by 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, while SPPC Block 1, which requires a longer start-up period, is expected to synchronize by 9 p.m. on the same day,” it said.
The DOE noted that EERI and SPPC will have a full capacity of 1,350 megawatts (MW) from the current 1,300 MW by 6:30 a.m. on March 31. “The shutdown of these plants has been strategically planned in coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to coincide with lower system demand, minimizing potential supply disruptions,” it said. Moreover, Meralco confirmed that supply reserves for the weekend are projected to be adequate, the Energy Department said. Nonetheless, Meralco will remain on high alert and is prepared to activate its Interruptible Load Program (ILP) should the need arise, it added.
On March 26, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced the conclusion of the Northeast Monsoon or “Amihan," signaling the onset of warmer conditions across the country. “The forecast heat index level from 27 – 31 March 2025 for large part of Luzon is expected to fall under the “caution” category which is 27 °C to 32 °C, while some parts may briefly reach the “extreme caution level” or 33 °C to 41 °C,” according to the DOE.
Given the expected warm temperatures, the Energy Department is strongly encouraging all Luzon consumers to take part in energy conservation efforts throughout the weekend. “Simple actions such as maximizing natural lighting and ventilation when possible, turning off lights and non-essential appliances when not in use, and setting air conditioners to 24 to 26°C can significantly contribute to reducing demand on the grid,” it said.
The DOE said it remains committed to ensuring a stable and reliable power supply while supporting sustainable energy practices.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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