By Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY - The Department of Energy (DOE)
in partnership with the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC)
recently conducted here in the city its first leg (of a series) of public
consultations on the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM) Rules.
Recognizing the urgent need to address the current power
supply shortage in Mindanao, DOE directed the PEMC to develop and implement an
interim electricity market design, specific to Mindanao.
DOE Assistant Secretary Daniel Ariaso Sr. during
the public consultation said “the consultation is a requisite, to inform the
public of the rules and regulations that will govern the IMEM and at the same
time solicit comments from concerned stakeholders prior the finalization of the
IMEM Rules.”
“We are here to reach out to all industry and at
the same time solicit comments valuable in making IMEM Rules more fitting to
your situation,” Asec. Ariaso stressed.
He said the government is continuously developing
ways and means on how to solve the power supply situation in Mindanao and one
immediate solution is the proposed IMEM.
IMEM is a medium term and interim solution
developed by DOE meant to address the deficiency of the supply in Mindanao.
It is a venue for transparent and efficient
utilization of all available capacities in Mindanao grid to meet the supply
deficiency. It intends to draw out all generation capacities including embedded
generators in the grid to contribute to the supply in Mindanao.
IMEM also intends to draw out voluntary load
customer who is willing to curtail their load to lower the demand in the
system.
In attendance to the public consultation were
officials, representatives of electric cooperatives from all over the Zamboanga
Peninsula Region, generating facilities, government agencies, small coconut
farmers association, canning factories, industrial group and academe.(PIA9)