POWER demand in all Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) franchise areas is expected to reach 405 megawatts (MW), some nine percent increase from this year’s average energy demand at 371 MW.
Arturo Milan, DLPC’s outgoing executive vice president and chief operating officer told reporters in Friday’s “Kapehan Sa PIA” at the Philippine Information Agency regional office in Quimpo Boulevard, Davao City that the hike in demand is due to the burgeoning investments poured in Davao City.
On an average, he said, they usually project 5 to 7 percent growth in power demand annually.
The increase in demand, Milan said, is largely contributed by the new manufacturing firm set to commercially operate in the Northern part of the city next year.
“Bigger power supply is demanded by the Davao Mighty Steel Plant in Bunawan which requires some 20MW,” Milan said. To meet the demand, the distribution utility, has secured additional contracted power supply.
Rossano Luga, Assistant Vice President for Reputation Enhancement Department of DLPC, said their power contracts from energy suppliers or generators are estimated to reach to 452 MW, up by 13 percent from this year’s power contract at 401 MW.
“We are eyeing to contract power of some 60 MW from San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation’s (SMCPs) power plant in General Santos City,” Luga said.
At present, DLPC has existing contracts from Therma South Inc., Therma Marina Inc., Hedcor-Sibulan, Hedcor-Talomo, National Power Corporation Alsons Power’s Southern Philippines Power Corporation (SPPC) and Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC).
The DLPC’s Bajada power plant and the implementation of Interruptible Load Program (ILP) by the big companies also help in augmenting the power supply within the DLPC’s franchise areas.
Engineer Rodget Velasco, the Vice President for Engineering and the incoming EVP and COO urged the consumers to conserve power to keep the city’s power supply balance and efficient. (ASP)
