The news about a “yellow alert” or a “red alert” that your local electric company may share on your timeline once in a while may pop up. Power advisories flash across your screen. What do they mean, and how do they relate to the brownouts happening in your area?
How do the red and yellow alerts work?
As part of its efforts to inform citizens about the current state of the power supply in a specific grid, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) releases power advisories to tell them.
It is usual for the grid to be on a white alert, which means there is enough power to run the system. An issue of a yellow warning is a sign of a reduced power supply than usual due to dwindling reserves, thus creating a lower power supply than usual.
A red alert will be issued if the situation worsens, which means a significant energy shortage, and the grid may not be able to meet its demands due to the low and inadequate supply of energy. Rotational brownouts or manual load drops may occur in the affected areas when this occurs, although it is not 100% certain that it will happen.
Why is the power supply thinned?
NGCP reports that technical problems in particular power plants commonly cause unplanned or forced outages. Older power plants that frequently malfunction are more likely to experience these problems.
The de-rating (reduction in operations) and scheduled maintenance of certain power plants also reduce power reserves. Upon returning to regular operations, the yellow or red alerts are lifted and replaced with white warnings.
How often do brownouts occur?
Throughout the year, brownouts occur sporadically when power plants experience problems that significantly reduce power. Additionally, they can happen when the power supply cannot cope with the increase in demand.
In hot weather, demand often skyrockets because people use more electricity to stay calm. During March to June, typically the hottest months in the Philippines, brownouts and power advisories such as red and yellow alerts become more common.
Additionally, power shortages are more likely during school breaks and holidays when families use more electricity and are indoors more often.
How are power shortages being avoided?
The country’s largest power grid, Luzon, has been experiencing increasingly frequent yellow and red alerts, despite normal fluctuations throughout the year. Rotational brownouts, including those in Metro Manila, have become more frequent thus.
The Department of Energy (DoE) has shared several short-term and long-term measures to mitigate the increasing power shortages.
To increase overall energy generation in the future, the DoE and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) are planning projects to build more power plants. There is also a consideration of switching to renewable energy sources.
The country also hopes to connect its three grids – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao – and create one unified grid. In the event of a power shortage on a grid, the energy sources can be shared across the network. By connecting the Mindanao grid to the Luzon and Visayas grids, the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) aims to achieve this goal.
How can I prevent power shortages?
Aside from the DoE, the NGCP is also encouraging ordinary citizens to do their part in conserving energy. These will help mitigate the current power deficits caused by power shortages in the country. People and families have been told to use energy-efficient appliances in the home, especially for devices that consume a considerable amount of energy, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, to reduce energy consumption.
Households should also consider the use of renewable energy sources like solar energy. By switching to a solar energy system, you can help offload demand from the power grid and reduce your monthly electricity bill. Some solar energy systems are also off-grid, so they are self-sufficient and can be used to provide electricity to the household even during periods when there is no power.
You may be able to say goodbye to brownouts altogether if you do this. This article aims to clarify what common power advisories, such as yellow and red alerts, mean so that you know what to expect whenever one is issued or shared by your local electric company. You can now prepare for a brownout occurring in your area when you see a red alert, as you will know ahead of time that it is possible.
