Recurring energy crisis requires bold solutions

The summer season has not yet arrived, but we already hear warnings of a likely power supply shortage in the coming months. The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMop) reported that people in Luzon and the Visayas may face a shortage of up to 1,200 megawatts (MW) in May and June. A few days earlier, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) issued a similar warning, saying that consumers in Luzon might face rotating brownouts between April and May.

The announcement from IEMop, which operates the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, cited forecasts from the Department of Energy. It predicted peak demand in Luzon to reach 12,285 MW in May, more than 8 percent from the peak demand in May 2019.