THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said its forecast for peak power demand on the Luzon grid this year is 12,387 megawatts (MW), and invited power generators to supply about 170 MW to help the distributor meet dry-season demand.
“Initial forecast is that Luzon will have a peak demand at 12,387 MW expected in May. Actual Luzon peak for 2021 was 11,640 MW,” Meralco said in a Viber message.
The company said its peak demand was 7,808 MW peak in 2021 for its franchise areas.
Historically, the dry season makes power prices supplied to households rise between 10% and 40% relative to the cooler months of January and February, Meralco said last year.
BusinessWorld asked the National Grid Corp. to comment, but it had not replied at deadline time.
In September, Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella told lawmakers during budget deliberations that the Luzon grid will have reserves of at least 1,500 MW to ensure no power interruptions during the May elections.
The Energy department has since estimated a thinning in reserves due to strong demand and lack of water to power hydroelectric plants in mid-2022.
Separately, Meralco on Tuesday renewed its invitation to power generation companies for the supply of 170 MW in peaking power for the dry season, for which expressions of interest are due Wednesday, Jan. 5.
A pre-bid conference is scheduled for Jan. 12, with the bid submission deadline set for Feb. 2.
Meralco said in December that the emergency procurement exercise was approved by the Department of Energy. — Marielle C. Lucenio
