This week’s power shortage of 200 megawatts in the Visayas Grid includes Cebu. The unexpected drop in supply forces us to reflect on the need for thrift in power consumption and for sustainable, renewable sources of energy.
It’s fortunate that the impact here may be minimal, as the Visayan Electric Company has a fallback plan to tap big, privately-owned generators.
The unplanned brownouts tell us us that the situation is just the tip of the iceberg: Power supply is inadequate to serve the needs of the populace.
Broadly speaking, the problem can be addressed in two ways.
First, by reducing the demand of power. Veco has repeated reminders for the public to to use fewer appliances, especially air-conditioners, during peak hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We can be more creative about cutting back on power consumption. Use less lights and water.
The annual Earth Hour activity of switching off for an hour is a good model. So are communities like the Trappist monks of Guimaras province who observe lights out at 8 p.m. and rural families who end the evening early.
And since Metro Cebu’s water supply has to be pumped out of the ground using power generators, then customers who check for pipe leaks and avoid letting faucets gush longer than they should are helping take the strain off power stations.
Every consumer can choose to be more sparing in the use of electricity.
We don’t have to stay awake till the wee hours every day, even if it’s more fun in summer to laze about.
We don’t need all-night video game or Facebook sessions. The reward would come in better quality of rest, more human interaction and lighter bills.
The second response to a power shortage is an aggressive commitment to harness renewable energy.
Consumers can reinforce solar energy solutions by feeding a demand for solar panels in commercial and residence settings. Or push for the government to increase investments in solar, wind, natural gas, and hydro energy.
These are alternatives that reduce the yoke of dependence on pollution-causing coal-fired plants, the same units that are now unceremoniously shutting down for emergency maintenance.
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