The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are calling on the public to  embrace energy efficiency as a way of life to save more on electricity costs especially during the dry season.

Meralco is working hand-in-hand with the DOE in empowering consumers to continuously practice energy  efficiency to better manage their electricity consumption, which usually spikes mainly due to increased use of  cooling appliances. 

During a webinar organized by Meralco, DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino said energy efficiency is the “best energy-saving device” and customers have the power to control their  consumption. 

“Energy efficiency is our first fuel. It is our first line of defense,” he said as he highlighted the importance of  changing consumption behaviors and investing in energy efficient technologies. 

Aquino added that demand-side management can also contribute in ensuring sufficient and continuous supply  for other electricity consumers. 

“When we are able to effectively manage our demand, we are able to reduce our requirements for generation,” he said. 

The call to continuously observe energy efficiency practices came just as the Philippine Atmospheric,  Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued an El Niño alert, noting that there’s  an 80% probability that this will start as early as June and persist until the first quarter of 2024. 

To help businesses become more energy efficient, Meralco, through its business unit MServ, offers energy  audit services and solutions such as data visualization, and energy efficiency reports for the seamless adoption  of the practice. 

“At any given level, we can support our customers, whether it is a small consulting job or a complete  rehabilitation of their cooling system, we are flexible that way. They can reach out to us, and we can offer  support to their energy efficiency journey,” MServ Vice President for Commercial Services Group Cecile  Marvilla said in the same webinar, which was conducted in support of Republic Act No. 11285 or the Energy  Efficiency and Conservation Act. 

Both Meralco and the DOE assured the public of their continuous efforts to ensure reliable electricity service  and sufficient power supply throughout the dry season. They are also urging more companies to join the  government’s Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to spare households from power interruptions during instances  of Red Alert or when supply is insufficient to meet the demand. 

The power distributor recently secured the commitment for 56 megawatts (MW) of additional de-loading  capacity, and once enrolled, this will expand the distribution utility’s ILP capacity to 616 MW from 560 MW  currently. As of today, there are 117 companies enrolled in the ILP within the Meralco franchise area. The DOE,  for its part, has discouraged generation plants from scheduling outages and testing units during the dry season.

“Meralco is one with the government in pushing for energy efficiency and conservation not just during the critical  dry season but as a way of living that Filipino consumers can embrace,” Meralco Spokesperson and Vice  President for Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga said.