The country's largest power distributor said its existing supply contracts are sufficient to meet customer requirements, but it is taking extra precautions against a surge in demand as households and businesses use more electricity for cooling.
“With higher temperatures expected during the El Niño, we anticipate increase in electricity demand,” Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said in a statement on Thursday.
“We therefore call on our customers to be mindful of their consumption and to practice energy efficiency, which will also help in managing their electricity bills,” he added.
More capacity on the way
Meralco expects to augment its supply with 200 MW from a completed competitive selection process and another 250 MW scheduled from the MTerra Solar project.
Meralco vice president and utility economics head Lawrence Fernandez identified the additional capacity as part of the utility's preparations to meet higher demand.
Keeping the lights on
Beyond securing additional power supply, Meralco is taking several steps to strengthen its network and reduce the risk of outages as El Niño drives up electricity demand.
Managing consumption
Households can also do their part to keep electricity bills manageable as temperatures rise.
Meralco recommends setting air conditioners at 25 degrees Celsius, maintaining appliances regularly and switching to energy-efficient lighting.
According to the Department of Energy, raising an air conditioner's thermostat setting by one degree can reduce operating costs by 5 to 7 percent, helping consumers save during hotter months.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
