Cheaper solar power gains ground in Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE -- Southeast Asia is accelerating plans to harness energy from the sun in coming years as the cost of generating electricity from some solar power projects has become more affordable than gas-fired plants, officials and analysts said.

The region, where power demand is expected to double by 2040, is striving to expand the share of renewable sources as developing nations seek affordable electricity while battling climate change.

Southeast Asia's cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity could nearly triple to 35.8 gigawatt (GW) in 2024 from an estimated 12.6 GW this year, consultancy Wood Mackenzie says.

Vietnam leads the pack with a cumulative solar PV installation of 5.5 GW by this year, or 44 percent of the total capacity in the region, said Rishab Shrestha, Woodmac's power and renewables analyst. This compares with 134 MW last year.

Among the encouraging signs for the solar industry was a recent auction for a 500 megawatt (MW) solar project in Malaysia of which 365 MW were bid at a price lower than the country's average gas-powered electricity, said Yeo Bee Yin, minister of energy, science, technology, environment and climate change.

"For the first time in the history of Malaysia we have a large-scale solar energy costs that is less than gas, Yeo said at the Singapore International Energy Week.

"We now finally have an alternative energy that is cheaper than gas to replace our peak energy demand at midday."

Malaysia has set a target to increase its renewable energy in electricity generation from current 6 percent to 20 percent by 2025, and a majority of this would be driven by solar.

The country also plans to open at least another 500 MW tender in the second quarter next year, Yeo said.

Singapore has also targeted at least 2 gigawatt (GW) peak of solar power capacity by 2030, or more than 10 percent of current peak electricity demand, potentially replacing natural gas which generates 95 percent of the country's power now.

"This being presented by the (Singaporean) authorities is very interesting as this points towards firm political determination to go towards a low-carbon economy in a constrained world," said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Keisuke Sadamori, the International Energy Agency (IEA) director for energy markets and security said: "There needs to be some good measures to ensure that investors feel confident that their money could be returned in a relatively reasonable period."

Still, the mushrooming of solar PV in Vietnam has exceeded its grid capacity by 18 percent, Woodmac's Shrestha said, underscoring the need for further investments across power sector.

"The approved capacity for the Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces amounts to 5 GW, more than double the grid usable capacity," he said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

A million Californians without power as fire risk spreads south

LOS ANGELES — More than a million Californians were without electricity due to preemptive blackouts Thursday, but localized fires broke out as hot, windy conditions spread south toward Los Angeles.

Some 600,000 customers in northern California were in the dark after Pacific Gas & Electric began switching off power the previous day, in a bid to prevent a repeat of last year's catastrophic inferno which killed 86 people.

That figure was slightly below the 800,000 feared, which would have left 2 million people unplugged.

The power cuts enable utility companies to inspect high-voltage lines for damage during particularly flammable conditions caused by high winds and dry vegetation.

With high-risk "red flag" winds spreading to the Los Angeles area further south, around 13,000 customers of Southern California Edison also had their electricity cut Thursday.

In the far south of the state, San Diego Gas & Electric warned 30,000 customers living in high-risk areas they could potentially lose their power if conditions worsen.

Meanwhile fire-fighting planes and helicopters were called in to tackle a fire east of Los Angeles which spread to 500 acres (200 hectares), and was described by officials as not contained.

Urban Los Angeles itself was not expected to be at-risk, although police Wednesday night said they would clear some vulnerable homeless camps.

Several other small fires were reported further north but quickly tackled by firefighters.

Schools and universities closed and people have been stocking up on gasoline, water, batteries and other basics, with frustration mounting at blackouts condemned by some as "third world."

PG&E on Thursday had completed inspections on some power lines in its blackout regions, and had restored electricity to 137,000 customers by Thursday afternoon.

But others may have to wait several days for inspections before normal service can be restored.

Last November, PG&E's faulty power lines were determined to have sparked the deadliest wildfire in the state's modern history, which killed 86 and destroyed the town of Paradise.

Outdated facilities and failure to deforest land surrounding high-voltage transmission lines were blamed for the inferno, causing PG&E to go bankrupt in January.

The cost of 48 hours of power cuts could reach $2.6 billion, Michael Wara, an expert in energy and climate policy at Stanford University, told CNN.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Turn your house 'green' with these easy energy-saving tips

Having an energy-efficient house without compromising comfort is all achievable with a "green home."

A green home does not just mean cutting cost on electricity bill; it is actually practicing earth-friendly habits to consume less energy.

Transforming your abode into an energy-efficient house doesn't have to be about a big-time structural overhaul. As Architect Berns Reyes pointed out, there are many ways where you can start before considering a renovation for a greener home.

As it may sound like your common energy-saving reminders, well, these practices also function as good steps in making that less expensive household living.

Starting from the lights, Reyes recommended working first on replacing the use of CFL or incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.

Although each costs up to P500, LED bulbs consume less electricity and last longer, with some brands offering long-term warranty.

Next on the list is the option of purchasing a single solar panel to power up a high-consuming appliance such as air conditioner or refrigerator.

A 250-watt panel, though costs around P20,000, can be viewed as a long-term investment as it would bring in more savings in the long-run.

Other green trade practices just take a habit development, such as unplugging appliances not in use, ironing all clothes at the same time, and keeping a good ventilation within your home through windows.

You may also want to be wary of devices that claim to be energy-savers. Meralco recently tested such devices and concluded that they don't lessen power consumption.

Reyes said it is best to note that a green home is a product of one's desire to adhere to environment-friendly practices while addressing personal home preferences.

"You can do modifications, actually, to your house. You just have to see how it looks and then from there we can actually assess small steps to make it more energy-efficient," he said.

"But bottom line is you're trying to cool the place, your trying to create a space that is not warm, a space that is actually comfortable to living," Reyes added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Clinton pledges to be America's renewable energy president

WASHINGTON, United States - Hillary Clinton laid out ambitious plans Monday to invest in solar and other renewable energy if elected US president, drawing a contrast with her fossil fuel-loving Republican rivals.

"We will make America the world's clean energy superpower," she declared at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa, unveiling highlights of a concept she said could ultimately impact every American household.

But she declined to weigh in on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would send Canadian crude oil to US refineries, a project criticized by environmentalists and many Democratic lawmakers that is awaiting a final State Department review.

"I refuse to turn my back on what is one of the greatest threats and greatest opportunities America faces," the Democratic 2016 frontrunner said about greenhouse gas emissions and their climate impact.

"I refuse to let those who are deniers, who disagree with what we need to do, to rip away all the progress we've made and leave our country exposed to the most severe consequences of climate change," she added.

"America needs to lead this fight, not go MIA."

Clinton laid out a two-pronged renewables agenda.

"We need to have more than half a billion solar panels installed across the country by the end of my first term," she said.

"Second, we'll set a 10-year goal of generating enough renewable energy to power every single home in America."

According to her campaign, those goals translate into an installed solar energy capacity of 140 gigawatts by 2020, or a 700 percent increase over the number of solar panels installed today.

Her plan calls for using renewable energy to generate a third of all electric power in 2020, along with investments that her campaign says will put America's economy on the road toward "deep decarbonization by 2050."

Climate change is a hyper-partisan issue in the United States, with many Republicans, including some 2016 presidential candidates, questioning whether human activity contributes to global warming.

In Congress, the Republican majority has fought anti-pollution standards established by President Barack Obama, notably for coal-fueled power plants.

Clinton signaled the need for a compassionate approach to Americans in the coal industry.

"We cannot close our eyes to the challenges facing hard-working families in Coal Country, who kept our lights on and our factories running for more than a century," she said.

In 2014, about 67 percent of US electricity came from fossil fuels, principally coal, according to the Energy Information Administration.

About 13 percent comes from renewables, including just 0.4 percent from solar. The rest, almost 20 percent, is generated by nuclear power plants.

Keystone is a quandary for Clinton, whose silence on the matter -- she was the top US diplomat when the State Department began its pipeline review -- has earned her rebukes from liberals seeking the Democratic nomination.

"I will refrain from commenting because I had a leading role in getting that process started and we have to let it run its course," she said.

Clinton proposes giving states and localities financial incentives to fight climate change, either by placing tighter emissions curbs than the law requires or through stepped-up investments in renewables.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Meralco launches its own 'power lab'

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Wednesday launched Power Lab, a facility that can test the electricity consumption and gadgets.

Meralco said Power Lab aims to educate Filipinos about electricity usage and help them understand the impact of energy management in their daily lives.

While the company said consumers can bring gadgets and appliances to the lab located inside the Meralco compound in Ortigas, consumers are advised to wait for the guidelines first before scheduling a visit.

The Meralco Power Lab houses an equipment testing laboratory,
a demo area and an intelligent living space.

In his speech, Meralco chairman Manny Pangilinan underscored the importance of technology and how it makes life easier now and in the future.

"Our vision for Meralco is not only a power company but as an Internet company for the power business," he said.

Experts from the Power Lab provided some important computations for consumers to save on costs:

TELEVISION
LED - P1.35 for 6 hours of use
CRT - P5.90 for 6 hours of use

REFRIGERATOR 7.2 cubic meter - P18 a day

LIGHTS
LED - P0.24 for 5 hours
CFL - P0.32 for 5 hours
Incandescent - P0.71 for 5 hours

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

DOE still in the dark on cause of Mindanao blackout

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) is still determining the cause of the blackout that hit parts of Mindanao Thursday morning.

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said what is important at this time is that power is being restored.

Around 70% of the entire grid has been restored, as of 12 p.m.

While Petilla is not ruling out sabotage, the secretary said it is unlikely the cause.

No reported bombings or tripping of power plants were reported shortly before the blackout.

When asked why 6 hours have passed and no one can still pinpoint what happened, Petilla said Mindanao has an antiquated system that the operator cannot just determine the cause of any tripoff.

Petilla said he has already ordered DOE and the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) to investigate the cause of the problem.

He added that initial reports indicate that the blackout occurred first in the Pulangi area in Bukidnon, but it is also possible that it was just affected by an earlier trip-off in transmission or generation facilities.

Earlier this week, energy officials drew flak from President Aquino for the delay in bringing back electricity supply in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

Petilla promises to restore power in 45 days and not earlier. When asked what happens if he can't deliver on his promise, Petilla said, "Bahala na si Presidente sa akin."

While power was restored partially in several parts of Mindanao, it will certainly experience rotating power interruptions in the summer.

According to Petilla, the outlook for summer in Mindanao is a deficiency of 170 megawatts which translates to 3-hour rotating power interruptions.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Power restoration in typhoon-hit areas to take 5-6 weeks

MANILA, Philippines – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced that it is targeting 5 to 6 weeks to restore power transmission lines destroyed by typhoon “Yolanda.”

The target was decided late Tuesday night after the Department of Energy (DOE) and NGCP representatives met with President Benigno Aquino in a Cabinet meeting.

Earlier, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla estimated restoration to last for 2 months at the earliest. But NGCP spokesman Atty. Cynthia Alabanza said, barring any untoward incidents and other disturbance, the company will try its best to restore the transmission backbone by 5 to 6 weeks.

According to Alabanza, the National Electrification Administration will also work double time so that distribution lines, which were also badly damaged, will be operational in 5 to 6 weeks too.

For NGCP, 566 structures including 248 towers and 318 poles were toppled. Due to the non-operation of the geothermal plant in Leyte, the whole of Visayas now has a deficiency of around 200 MW, resulting to rotating brownouts in Visayas.

The NGCP plans to redesign its towers, with the current that can withstand 185 kilometers per hour (kph), to a structure that can take 270 kph wind strength.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

CamSur electric coop gets extension on debt deadline

MANILA, Philippines - Power was restored in Iriga City and other parts of Camarines Sur after its electric cooperative won an extension to next week to pay its supplier San Miguel Global Power.

Camarines Sur was supposed to be cut off from the power grid Wednesday after failing to meet a 12 noon deadline to settle its unpaid electricity bills. It did experience a power outage that lasted 15 minutes.

In a text message, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said an extension to the November 4 deadline was granted after negotiations between him, Camarines Sur mayors, the management of Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative 3 (Casureco 3) and San Miguel.

"I have negotiated with [San Miguel] for extension due to holidays. This means debt will be further incurred at a rate of P1.3 million per day until disconnection happens or debts are settled," he said.

Petilla, hower, says the extension will further bloat Casureco's P100 million debt by P1.3 million a day until it pays its debt.

Iriga Mayor Ronald Alfelor said Wednesay Iriga itself has not been remiss in paying its electric bills because these should be offset against the taxes owed by Casureco 3. - ANC

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Can you be electrocuted while using your cellphone?

MANILA - Can you be electrocuted by your cellphone?

This is the question on everyone's minds after a woman in China died of electric shock after answering her cellphone while it was being charged.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said it is possible, although remote.

"It's possible, the electricity coming from the power mains, tuluy tuloy yun, diretso sa phone, kung walang protection, pwedeng dumiretso sa phone. Pag dumaloy sa katawan mo, chances are, mamatay ka," said Edgardo Cabarios, NTC director and electronics engineer.

Cabarios added, however, that manufacturing companies make sure their gadgets are safe and have already studied the dangers such as overcharging or overheating or the possibility of electricity flowing through cables.

What people should be careful of are the fake or substandard chargers.

“Hindi ka sigurado dun," he said.

To be sure, it's better not to use your cellphone while charging, he said.

He also said that water is a conductor of electricity and if a person is wet, this will lower his chance to resist electric shock.

So far, there have been no reports or complaints brought to the NTC regarding cellphones causing electric shock.

Cabarios also disputed a belief that a person who is using a cellphone is prone to be hit by lightning.

"Tatamaan ka maski hindi ka gumagamit ng telepono kaya huwag ka sa mataas na lugar o pumasok ka sa loob."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Power outage hits Palace, too

MANILA - Power also went out in Malacañang Wednesday afternoon.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte was fielding a question in the Palace press briefing room when the power dipped, causing an audio feedback before the lights went out.

A generator then automatically came on.

The power outage also resulted in the suspension of operations of the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, an official said.

A message on the official MERALCO Twitter account read: "At 1351H, a widespread power outage occurred within the franchise area of Meralco. Cause is still being checked."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Meralco customers may get refund

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) customers may soon get a refund of overcharged transmission costs.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) executive director Saturnino Juan said they have finished deliberations on the matter and would soon come up with a decision.

“There will be a refund because in the main decision of the commission, it already found that there’s a need. The question now is how much should be refunded and by who, to whom and how it will be flowed through to the end consumers who actually paid these amounts,” Juan said.

Meralco is seeking a refund of P10 billion covering double charges of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM).

Meralco earlier submitted the summary of transition supply contract line loss computation, including official receipts covering July 2006 to May 2012 to support its overcharging claims.

In March 2010, ERC ruled that there was double charging of transmission line costs on the start of operations of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Luzon.



ERC earlier required PSALM, Philippine Electricity Market Corp. and Meralco to submit supporting documents for further deliberations.

source: philstar.com

Another Mindanao power crisis this year?

MANILA, Philippines - The increasing demand for power in Mindanao and the lack of additional capacity to accommodate this may result in another power crisis for the region as early as this year, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies warned on Wednesday.

PIDS said a study done by its Senior Research Fellow Adoracion Navarro showed electricity demand from the region is foreseen to grow by 4.28% annually between 2010 and 2019, faster than the national rate of 3.63%.

Navarro noted that this translates to a demand of as much as 1,428 megawatts (MW) this year and 1,823 MW by 2019, but when computed with a reserve margin of at least 21% of peak demand, generation capacity in the region should be 1,728 MW in 2013 and 2,206 MW in 2019.

"However, the dependable capacity in Mindanao is now only 1,616 MW. This means that the power system could run a reserve shortfall of 112 MW for this year—a clear sign that last year’s power crisis may happen again," PIDS pointed out.

This gap between demand and capacity is foreseen to be filled only in 2015, when a new coal power plant in Sarangani supplies an additional 105 MW, the think tank said.

Navarro has recommended the rehabilitation of the Agus and Palangui hydropower plants, the interconnection of the Visayas-Mindanao grids, and the implementation of reforestation and watershed management programs in the region, among others, to support the power situation in Mindanao.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Power prices slightly up in October

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is advising its customers that power prices will increase slightly in October.

Following a P1.73 per kWh reduction in power prices in September, a residential customer with a consumption of 200 kWh will see a P0.12 per kWh increase in their electric bill.

The increase in power prices this October is a result of higher generation, transmission, and other pass-through costs.

The generation charge increased by P0.10 per kWh, from P5.40 per kWh in September to P5.50 per kWh in October.

The increase was due mainly to higher charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Marker (WESM), which went up by P1.16 per kWh.

After the holidays and rainy weather of August led to depressed demand for power, September saw an increase in consumption of electricity. On the other hand, there was a reduction in available generation capacity, and the output of coal-fired plants was restricted due to repairs and maintenance.

These eventually led to increases in WESM prices.

The higher WESM charges were partially offset by lower prices from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), whose rates decreased by P0.09 per kWh, and the National Power Corporation (NPC), which registered a decrease of P0.22 per kWh.

WESM, IPPs and NPC contributed 6.0%, 44.1%, and 49.0%, respectively, to Meralco’s power supply requirements in September.

The transmission charge also went up by P0.04 per kWh. This was due to higher ancillary generation costs, which are affected by WESM charges.

With higher generation and transmission charges, the system loss charge similarly increased by P0.02 per kWh.

Meralco said it does not earn from the generation and pass-through charges. Payment for generation charges goes to power producers (NPC, IPPs, WESM). Transmission and system loss charges meanwhile go to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and other generating companies.

Meralco charges only account for about 16% of the total electricity bill. The rest of the pass-through costs include taxes, subsidies and other charges.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

S. Korea issues power shortage alert amid heatwave

SEOUL - South Korea's state power company issued a shortage warning Monday, meaning that reserves are dangerously low, as electricity consumption rose sharply due to an unusual heatwave.

The warning from the Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) was aimed at averting power cuts, the knowledge economy ministry said, urging households, factories and other users to cut consumption voluntarily.

Temperatures have stayed above 35 degrees Celsius (95 F) for 10 consecutive days in many parts of the country, driving up air-conditioning use.

Power consumption on Monday reached a record high of 74.29 million kilowatts in the afternoon, the ministry said.

It was the first such warning since last September, when more than 2.1 million households and other premises were hit with rolling power cuts lasting up to one hour.

The ministry also resumed operations of the country's oldest nuclear power plant at Gori. It had been closed for months due to scrutiny over its safety and protests by civic groups.

"We are relieved to resume operations of the Gori reactor at a time when power consumption is expected to reach its peak," Knowledge Economy Minister Hong Suk-Woo said in a statement.

In February the Gori plant, built in 1978 near the southern city of Busan, briefly lost mains power and the emergency generator failed to kick in.

The incident did not result in any radioactive leaks but it sparked an extensive probe amid concerns over nuclear safety following last year's atomic crisis in Japan.

South Korea operates 23 nuclear power plants which meet more than 35 percent of its electricity needs.

Analysts say successive governments have failed to authorise major increases in the relatively low cost of electricity, encouraging wasteful consumption.

KEPCO last Friday decided to raise rates by 4.9 percent, yielding to government pressure to limit the increase to less than five percent.

source: interaksyon.com

Power outages hit Metro Manila

Power outages were reported in various parts of Metro Manila late Sunday evening as tropical depression 'Gener' continued to batter the northern Philippines with rains and strong winds.

Power was affected along the typhoon's path causing power interruptions across Luzon, including many parts of Parañaque, Pasig, Quezon City, Manila, and Makati. Some areas of Rizal province such as Jala-jala and Rodriguez are already without power.

Most blackouts were caused by strong winds that tripped systems, or in line with precautionary measures by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). In an interview, Len Nazario, the power distributor's customer assistance coordinator, said about 20 percent of the company's franchise area does not have electricity as of 3 a.m.

Some areas reported fluctuating power supply and intermittent brownouts.

Based on reports from Meralco's twitter account late Sunday evening, the company's service area was affected by emergency line troubles due to the inclement weather.

By 1 a.m., Monday, Meralco said its ground crew were patrolling affected areas but could not immediately give any "estimated time of power restoration in all affected areas."

The power company did not provide details as to the location of the areas affected, but reports culled from various social media platforms indicated that power interruptions were widespread.

The country's largest electricity distribution company, Meralco services the electricity needs of Metro Manila and parts of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

Other areas outside the Meralco franchise likewise reported cases of line troubles, although power agencies have yet to announce a status report as of this writing.

source: interaksyon.com

Off-grid households to start receiving electricity this month

MANILA - The Department of Energy is set to electrify off-grid residential areas across the country under its Philippine Energy Efficiency Project.

In a statement, the DOE said 76 households in Antique, 30 in Aklan, 57 in Palawan and 60 in Davao del Norte will benefit from energy efficient lighting systems under the Asian Development Bank-funded project.

"PEEP aims to demonstrate the societal benefits of implementing projects in the commercial, residential and government sectors, notably the reduction of both the demand for electricity and the emission of greenhouse gases," the DOE said.

Beneficiaries will enjoy free installation of efficient technology demonstration package consisting of six pieces of LED lamps, lockable battery, mounting structure, charge controller with built-in AM/FM radio, and outlets for cellphone charger to be powered by photovoltaic solar home systems in lieu of kerosene and candles.

Deployment of the systems will start this month and will take about two months to complete.

Overall, the project is expected to generate savings of 26,524 kilowatt-hours equivalent to P238,716 and avoidance of 11 tons of carbon dioxide.

This project is made possible through the cooperation of the Team Energy Foundation Inc., the local governments of Aklan, Antique, Palawan, and Davao del Norte, and the following electric cooperatives: Palawan Electric Cooperative, Inc., Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.

source: interaksyon.com

Japan switches off final nuclear reactor

TOKYO — Japan switched off its last working nuclear reactor on Saturday, leaving the country without atomic-generated electricity just over a year after the world’s worst nuclear accident in a quarter of a century.

Technicians closed down the No. 3 unit at Tomari in Hokkaido at 11:03 p.m.

Hokkaido Electric Power, which runs the plant, suspended power generation for mandatory maintenance and is scheduled to bring the reactor to cold shutdown some time on Monday, said company spokesman Hisatoshi Kibayashi.

The shuttering marks the first time since the 1970s that resource-poor and energy-hungry Japan has been without nuclear power, a technology that had provided a third of its electricity until meltdowns at Fukushima.

With the four reactors at Fukushima crippled by the natural disaster public suspicion of nuclear power grew, so much so that no reactor shut for routine safety checks has since been allowed to restart.

“A new era in Japan with no nuclear power has begun,” said Gyoshu Otsu, a 56-year-old monk who joined a protest against nuclear power in front of the industry ministry in Tokyo which supervises the nation’s power utilities.

Protest organizer Masao Kimura said: “It’s a symbolic day today. Now we can prove that we will be able to live without nuclear power.”

But Hiroomi Makino, the pro-nuclear mayor of Tomari, which hosts the reactor, said: “I would like the company to resume operation as I believe that they will give the highest priority to safety.”

As the reactor shuts down, Japan’s entire stable of 54 reactors will be offline, despite increasingly urgent calls from the power industry and bodies like the OECD, who fear dire consequences for the world’s third largest economy.

Last month, Kansai Electric Power, which supplies mid-western Japan, including the commercial hubs of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, said a hot summer could see supply fall nearly 20% short of demand.

Kyushu Electric Power, covering an area further west, as well as Hokkaido Electric Power also said they will struggle as air conditioning gets cranked up in Japan’s sweltering summer.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s government has given the green light to restarting reactors at the Oi nuclear plant, run by Kansai Electric, but regulators still have to convince those living near the plant.

In order to be fired up again, reactors must now pass International Atomic Energy Agency-approved stress tests and get the consent of their host communities—it is this last hurdle that is proving hardest to overcome.

Goshi Hosono, state minister in charge of nuclear policy, told reporters: “Situations surrounding electric power are severe, but we can’t sacrifice safety. We want to face the reality firmly.”

Critics of nuclear power say Japan has managed thus far with its ever dwindling pool of reactors and need not look back.

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace said the country should concentrate on ramping up renewables and boosting energy efficiency.

source: japantoday.com

Electricity bills to go up in May

MANILA, Philippines - Brace for higher electricity bills in May, after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved a government rate-hike petition.

In a decision, the ERC cleared an increase of P0.069 per kilowatt-hour in Luzon, P0.61 in the Visayas and P0.04 in Mindanao.

The rate hike is meant to help state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) settle fuel and foreign-currency exchange costs incurred from January 2007 to April 2010.

"These fuel, purchased power, and foreign currency costs are legitimate costs already incurred in their supply of power to their various customers. By law, they are entitled to recover these costs as part of the price of electricity they sell to their customers," Francis Saturnino Juan, ERC executive director, said.

The rate adjustment will take effect in May, and will continue to be passed on to consumers until Napocor's fuel and forex costs are recovered.

"The ERC has already mitigated the impact of these adjustments by spreading their recovery over a longer period and by coming out with this decision at the soonest to avoid additional carrying charges to be included in the recoverable amounts," Juan said.

Under ERC regulations, Napocor may recover previous costs it incurred in its operations through what is termed as deferred accounting adjustments (DAA).

These DAAs are the Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) and Incremental Currency Exchange Rate Adjustment (Icera) for fuel and forex, respectively.

The GRAM and Icera are variable cost adjustments prescribed by the regulator that allow Napocor to recover from or refund its customers any increase or decrease in its fuel and purchased power cost as well as forex-related costs incurred in previous months.

source: interaksyon.com