Fuel supply shortage to worsen blackouts

By MYRNA M. VELASCO Contributor

THE end of the long dark tunnel is certainly not coming yet for consumers in the offgrid areas, instead this is seen worsening starting February 1 this year, according to the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) of state-run National Power Corporation (NPC) which has been servicing these domains.

As announced by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), which is the agency exercising supervision over the electric cooperatives (ECs) – including those in the off-grid areas, there was already a notice issued by NPC that it “will implement the reduction of electricity service in SPUG areas due to fuel supply shortage and the delay in universal charge for missionary electrification (UC-ME) subsidy payment.”

The curtailment of power service will mean longer brownout-hours or a fullblown power crisis that will torment consumers in these areas, which have been experiencing electricity service disruptions for a long time.