Treñas asks for cooperation over imminent power shortage
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas appealed to the business sector to use their own power generators during peak periods, that is from 1-3 in the afternoon and from 6-9 in the evening, in the event the imminent power shortage during the summer months of May and June is not addressed.
Treñas said the move could lessen the power demand from source hence could avert possible power interruptions in most parts of the city.
Worried over the city's power situation, Treñas is set to leave for Manila on Monday to personally bring to Pres. Arroyo the resolution approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod calling for the transfer of Power Barge 101 from Cebu to Iloilo City.
Early this week, officials of Mirant Global-Panay Power Corporation told the city mayor that they could not be able to meet the power demands of the city by the months of May and June.
Mirant-PPC reportedly could only supply 79 MW as against the city's expected power demand of 81.90 MW. The deficit could result in rotating brownouts and load shedding in certain areas of the city.
Power demand is expected to surge these summer months as most people would use electric appliances like air-conditioners and electric fans more frequently to cool themselves off from the hot temperature.
National Power Corporation's (Napocor) Power Barge 101 which could generate 24 MW could apparently fill in the power needs of the city.
Treñas met with officials of Mirant-PPC, National Transmission Commission (Transco), Napocor and Panay Electric Company (Peco) on Tuesday to discuss possible solutions to the imminent power problem.
Peco, the sole power distributor in the city, has no other power source than Mirant-PPC.
December last year, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered Peco to connect with Napocor's Cebu Negros Panay (CNP) Grid so that in the event Mirant-PPC incurs power shortages they could have alternative power source.
To date however Peco has not yet complied with the said order.
Meanwhile, lawyer Romeo Gerochi downplayed the new threat of a power shortage posed by Mirant-PPC. He said he has documents showing that PPC through its sister company Avon River supplies power to Ileco II which distributes electricity in the central towns of Iloilo.
"If they (Mirant-PPC) are short of power how come they sell power to other power distributors like Ileco II?" asked Gerochi who has been in the forefront of the battle against Peco and Mirant-PPC.
Gerochi insinuated that Peco and Mirant-PPC might have other objectives in painting a grim power scenario anew.
Treñas said, Napocor data showed that the city's power problem is seen to even escalate by next year 2007 if there would still be no other power source in Panay island.
Panay island is dependent on the existing diesel fired power plants operated by Napocor which are already old.
There were proposals to put up coal-fired power plants, which could be an alternative energy source, but were eventually opposed by certain sectors.