ERC assesses 8 power gencos on forced outages

MANILA, Philippines - Eight power generation companies (gencos) are being assessed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on forced outages that caused insufficient power supply and led to power interruptions early this month.

In a text message, ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar said these gencos are Sual, Calaca, Pagbilao, Malaya, GNPower, BacMan, South Luzon Therma Energy Corp. and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp.

These companies were given 24 hours to explain their forced outages which placed the Luzon grid on red alert, or with severe power deficiency, and caused up to three-hour brownouts on Aug.5.

 “Sanctions are made on the basis of penalty guidelines issued by the ERC. Based on our monitoring, however, and acting on the compliance letters we have sent, the concerned plants have already submitted their respective reports for this incident,” Salazar said.

The companies submitted “varying reasons” behind their unscheduled outage, the ERC chief said.

“We’re still validating their submissions with the help of the GMC (Grid Management Committee),” he said.

The GMC was formed by the ERC to monitor the day-to-day operations of the country’s power grid.

Two weeks ago, the ERC required gencos to submit detailed reports on the causes of forced outages and mitigating measures undertaken after the Luzon grid suffered from lack of sufficient power supply.

The power regulator said it will also validate the action undertaken and protocols to address these contingencies and may require even a physical inspection of the facilities.

The requirements are in addition to the regular reporting required of the gencos whose facilities have been on forced outage status.

This was done after the Department of Energy also asked the power regulator to look into these issues.