Metro Cebu’s power demand drops

AS THE enhanced community quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) saw the temporary closure of businesses and drove people inside their homes, the Visayan Electric Company records a 30 percent drop in Metro Cebu’s power consumption.

Visayan Electric spokesperson Quennie Bronce told Sunstar Cebu they first recorded a drop in power demand on March 19, 2020, a day after the first Covid-19 positive case was confirmed in Mandaue City by the Department of Health.

“In 2019, from the period of February 26 to March 25, the peak demand was at 515 megawatt (mw),” she said.

For 2020, because the consumption started dropping on March 19, the peak demand was at 455 mw. or a reduction of about 15 percent.

Bronce said the 15 percent reduction was recorded on March 24 at the start of government restrictions on businesses which contributed to the people’s limited accessibility as security mechanisms were set in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

From March 26 up to the present, the drop increased to 30 percent, as orders to temporarily halt the operations of big businesses in the industrial and commercial sectors were on full swing.

The 30 percent reduction was recorded on March 30, two days after the implementation of the ECQ in Cebu City on March 28.

“There is now excess power. People need not fear if there will be brownouts, unless it is caused by emergencies. Our emergency crew is still very much operational 24/7,” Bronce assured.

With mass transportation suspended and curfews imposed, the power consumption now is driven by residential usage.

“We expected residential consumption will go up because people are now inside their homes and it is summer. We are expecting airconditioner units and electric fans are on full blast,” Bronce said.