ERC to probe generation firms amid power disruptions in Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA— The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will investigate generation companies over the power disruptions in Visayas and Mindanao.

ERC Legal Service Director Maria Corazon Gines on Thursday said the electricity supply is getting back to normal.

“Sana tuloy-tuloy na na wala na silang [power plants] outage,” Gines told Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on state television PTV.

“Gayunpaman, ‘yun naman pong mga generation companies, titingnan naman po namin, iimbestigahan din kung ano ‘yung naging dahilan kung bakit sila nagkaroon ng outage,” she added.

Gines guarantees that fines and penalties will be imposed, if a generation company is proven to have committed a lapse. 

“Para sa mga susunod na panahon ay maiiwasan na nila ‘yung ganu’ng outages,” she said.

Since May, Visayas has been experiencing recurring power disruptions when major power plants there had unplanned outages.

A number of power plants in Mindanao, meanwhile, began being unavailable in August.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said power disruptions are necessary to budget the remaining energy supply amid the power plant outages.

The House committees on Energy, Visayas Development, and Legislative Franchises have been conducting an inquiry into the persisting brownouts in Visayas.