Rodriguezes want power firms fined for unscheduled blackouts

By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent

THE Rodriguez brothers have proposed the imposition of fines and other penalties against those found responsible for any unscheduled power plant downtime.

Reps. Rufus and Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of Cagayan de Oro’s 2nd District and Abante Mindanao (Abamin), respectively, also sought similar penalties against the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and local power distribution utilities that in situations when they are at fault for unscheduled blackouts.

The Rodriguezes said the downtimes have already resulted in huge losses in terms of production, schedule delays, hurried repairs, increased work pressure, and job stress and risks.

They said the unscheduled downtimes are very harmful to the economy.

The congressmen stated that most of the time, “those responsible for these have no regard for the harm they put on our economy and on businesses.”

Through a propose resolution, they said it was time for the Department of Energy (DOE) to consider imposing fines and penalties on erring power firms, including distribution companies.

“We urge the DOE to impose fines on those responsible for this unscheduled brownouts in our country kay luoy kaayo ang mga katawhan ug businesses nga maapektuhan kay tungod sa abrupt nga mga  brownout,” said the Cagayan de Oro congressman.

Rodriguez said the fines and penalties have yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez called on the energy department to fully implement the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) in response to the worsening power crisis.

The ILP was conceptualized and implemented by the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to cushion the effects of a power shortage until new capacities become available.

Based on the scheme, firms with stand-by generation capacities that participate would be compensated should they use their own generating facilities whenever there is a power supply deficit.

Rodriguez said malls, hotels, industrial and commercial establishments that consume so much electricity but that have their own power generators should start helping.

“Kung kining mga generarator padaganon, dili ta ma problema. Ila generator, kita sa Cepalco,” he said.

Rodriguez said the DOE did not fully implement the ILP in the city.

“Padaganon nato ang mga generator aron magamit sa small businessmen, to avoid losses, and to provide electricity to households. So we call on the DOE to help us kay grabe na ang rotational brownouts,” he said.