Petilla: Implement ILP on yellow, not red alert

MANILA, Philippines – The Interruptible Load Program (ILP) should be implemented during yellow alert – not red when there is already insufficient power supply, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said.

A yellow alert means power supply is thin.

The ILP is meant to address the looming power shortage next year. With the ILP, power supply from the grid that will not be consumed by participating customers will be available for use by other customers within the franchise area. Through this, the aggregate demand for power from the system will be reduced to a more manageable level, helping ensure the availability of supply during the anticipated power crisis next year.

President Benigno Aquino III previously said that in the absence of the joint resolution, the government would pursue this set-up although this is voluntary on the part of private sector participants.

However, consumers may have to shoulder an additional P0.08 ($0.0018*) to P0.10 ($0.0022) centavos per kilowatt hour (kWh) when the ILP is implemented during a yellow alert.

“The important thing here is to have power. If the ILP kicks in during red alert then definitely brownouts will happen first before the program is implemented. That’s why I am requesting the Senate to allow ILP to run on yellow alert,” Petilla said on Tuesday, December 16.

The House of Representatives said government has to shoulder the additional cost for ILP participants whenever the program runs during red alert.

But if the cost is passed on to the consumers, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) would have to conduct public hearings first, Petilla said.

“We’re not sure if the ERC can finish the hearings by March 1,” Petilla said.

As such, Petilla proposed to the Senate for the ERC to skip the public hearings and allow the Department of Energy (DOE) to come up with the implementing guidelines.

“It is my hope that it won’t be passed on to the consumers. But if it is passed on, then I am asking the Senate to let the DOE come up with certain guidelines because the ERC may not finish the hearings by March next year,” Petilla said. 

DOE is also still encouraging 32 more participants to sign up as ILP participants. – Rappler.com



*$1 = P44.75



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