DoE puts focus on VisMin power supply
This is critical during the summer months, but most especially, we have to do our best in ensuring that the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines nationwide will be unhampered.
As the summer months are around the corner, the Department of Energy (DoE) called on power stakeholders in the Visayas and Mindanao (VisMin) region to ensure the stability of energy supply.
The call was also in line with the much-awaited rollout of the government’s mass inoculation plan.
The DoE disclosed that power situation in Visayas and Mindanao might be affected within the year as they tackled the possible issues that may arise in the near-term.
Energy Undersecretary Emmanuel Juaneza echoed what Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said, stating the need to stretch every resource the agency had without compromising the quality of its work to ensure a stable power supply throughout the year.
“This is critical during the summer months, but most especially, we have to do our best in ensuring that the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines nationwide will be unhampered,” Juaneza explained.
Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola shared the same sentiment, recognizing the importance of ensuring energy supply with the expected increase in demand for such in the coming months.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported that power supply and reserves are ample in line with the DoE’s 2021 power forecast.
For the Generation Companies of VisMin, Juaneza said that the stakeholder must align its maintenance schedules and activities to prevent outages during the vaccine rollout.
In a separate development, the DoE published a Department Circular (DC) on the guidelines for the qualifications, assessment, registration and certification of energy conservation officers, energy managers and energy auditors.
Secretary Cusi said that the DC will provide guidance on the engagement of energy efficiency professionals for designated establishments (DE).
“We envision that these formal certifications would not only professionalize high-level energy management learnings but would also generate greater employment opportunities for energy efficiency practitioners across all sectors,” Cusi said.
Under the DC, the appointment of certified energy conservation officers is required for Type 1 DE or those that have an annual energy consumption of 500,000 to 4 million kilowatt-hours (kWh).
On the other hand, appointments of certified energy managers are needed for Type 2 DE or those that have an energy consumption higher than 4 million kWh.
The DoE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau will be holding a nationwide information, education and communication campaign this year for a better understanding of the DC.