Power retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday 105 companies committed to joining the interruptible load program with total capacity of 530.10 megawatts to help ensure stable and reliable electricity service during the dry months where demand historically goes up to as high as 40 percent.
Meralco vice president and head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said they continued to urge customers to participate in the ILP, an energy demand-side management program through which large-load customers are asked to use their generator sets or reduce their operations instead of drawing power from the grid.
This will spare households from power interruptions during instances of red alert or when supply is insufficient to meet the demand.
“We continue to hold webinars with our business customers to apprise them of the 2024 power situation in Luzon and invite them to join ILP,” Fernandez said.
Meralco said ILP helps avert possible power interruptions, especially during the dry months—when electricity demand traditionally spikes.
Meralco also reminded the public to continue practicing energy efficiency for better management of their consumption, which historically rises by 10 percent to 40 percent during this period.
“Electricity consumption historically rises during the dry months because of the increased use of cooling appliances. That’s why we, in Meralco, continue to share a wealth of energy efficiency tips, not only to help our customers better manage their power consumption, but also to encourage its adoption as a way of life,” Meralco spokesperson and vice president for corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said earlier.
Meralco encourages its customers to use its appliance calculator (AppCal) available in the Meralco mobile app to better manage their electricity use.
The AppCal provides information on the power consumption of various gadgets and major household appliances.
The company also reiterated its solidarity with government in raising awareness about the dangers of fire this Fire Prevention Month.