DOE Probes Criminal Liability of Power Companies After Luzon’s Lack of Supply

There is a possibility of placing criminal liability on certain power companies that contributed to the lack of power supply in Luzon.

According to Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, The Department of Energy (DOE) has linked up with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to look into the non-compliance of power companies with government policies. It’s being determined whether these acts can be commensurate to economic sabotage.

“Our lawyers in DOE are exploring that. We are in the process of gathering pieces of evidence,” said Fuentebella.

Fuentebella further pointed out that during the months of April to June, some firms conducted preventive maintenance on their power plants despite the implementation of a policy that prohibited the said activity.

Additionally, Fuentebella also noted the failure of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to secure sufficient power reserves. This breached a 2019 DOE circular that was issued to guarantee the electrical grid’s reliability.

Power companies identified to have played a role in the supply problem are being provided seven days to explain their unplanned outages, which exceeded the maximum allowable days per year.

Luzon’s power supply has already reached a deficit of 200 megawatts, said Fuentebella. The NGCP has cautioned that rotational blackouts may occur until June 7 as the capacity of generators struggles to meet the demand for electricity.

Source: CNN PH