Electricity consumers in Luzon may again suffer from the double whammy of rotating brownouts and subsequent up-ticks in electricity rates due to the looming shutdown of the Malampaya gas processing facility which fuels three major gas plants in the grid.

An advisory sent to the media indicated that the Malampaya platform encountered a problem “due to gas leak at reboiler,” adding that its operator Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) merely resorted to remedial measures to sustain normal gas supply in the meantime.

The power facilities to be affected, if there would be a shutdown of the gas facility, would include the 1,500-megawatt Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo gas plants; as well as the 1,200-MW Ilijan facility.

But First Gen, which operates the Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo gas plants, already gave word that they have condensate fuel that can be readily utilized once a shutdown of the gas facility becomes inevitable.

First Gen senior vice president Victor B. Santos noted that the Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo plants “have sufficient liquid fuel inventory on site running at full capacity.”

He said the company has already notified “our liquid fuel suppliers (both international and local) for additional fuel if necessary.”

It was further stated in the SPEX advisory that “upon arrival of the spare parts from Singapore, the platform will be shut down for five days anytime next week.”

Despite concerns of an imminent shutdown, SPEX noted that they have to determine “if they would really need to shut down or not.”

The company emphasized that “a condensate processing equipment is being repaired at the moment.” The gas field operator said hopefully a shutdown may no longer be taken as an option.
It is widely perceived though that if the gas plants shift to liquid fuel, the resulting impact on the consumers will be higher rates that will be carried on to their electric bills eventually.

Meanwhile, for the Ilijan gas plant, the availability of spare fuel will depend on the procurement process that the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) or National Power Corporation will have, since the government still assumes obligation on the fuel provision for the facility.

The fragility of power facilities as well as the source of fuels for various technologies have been triggering recurrent outages at power plants.

In another development, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is duty bound to explain to customers how it arrived at its billings.

The ruling arose from the case of a couple whose electric service was ordered restored by the High Court after being disconnected for almost 14 years.

In 1996, spouses Edito and Felicidad Chua questioned their bill of R4,906.87 for the period of Sept. 11 to Oct. 11 of that year. The Chuas are residing at No. 9 Hukyet St. Area I, Veterans Village, Quezon City.

According to the bill, the Chuas consumed 1,297 kilowatt-hours for the period, which was approximately 553 percent higher than their previous monthly billings.

Meralco then replaced the old meter and installed a new one because the old meter’s terminal seal was missing, with its cover seal and sealing wires broken.

The Chuas subsequently received demand letters from Meralco which had accused them of tampering with the electric meter and had billed them P183,983.66. When they refused to pay, Meralco disconnected their electric service.

But in its decision, the SC noted that the utility firm failed to present any proof that it ever caught the Chuas or anyone acting in their behalf, in the act of tampering with their electric meter.

It also faulted Meralco for not exerting effort to investigate the complaint of the Chuas regarding the sudden increase in their electric bill, especially considering their claim that they had not done anything new or used any additional appliances during the period covered by the bill they have questioned.

“Meralco is duty bound to explain to its customers the basis for arriving at any given billing, particularly in cases of unregistered consumptions. Otherwise, customers will stand piteously at the public utility’s mercy,” the SC said in a 26-page decision penned by Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion.

Meanwhile, former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco said in his talk with Aquino during the presidential campaign, the Chief Executive aired serious apprehensions about the safety of operating a nuclear power facility in the country.

A strong advocate of nuclear energy, Cojuangco said he explained to Aquino, his cousin, that his fears about the dangers of the BNPP remain unfounded, pointing out that the facility does have the same safety features as its “twin” power plants which are still currently in use.

Cojuangco said the country needs at least 2,000 megawatts of electricity to head off a power crisis in 2012, adding that the BNPP, which can generate at least 620 megawatts, could help ease the power situation. (with reports by Edmer Panesa and Ben Rosario)