We have probably one of the highest power rates in the world. And the service that we get for the amount that we pay is not really commensurate with the costs.
Meralco has again increased power rates amid rolling brown outs. They cite increase fuel costs as well as maintenance and repair costs as well.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar has defended the increase saying that "power shortage is usually accompanied by higher prices due to unplanned capital expenses when power plants break down."
That may be but in any business especially power generation shouldn't they have plans for such scenarios and the funding to take care of it without ramming the costs down our throats.
It's bad enough that now they transfer all the risks of electricity being stolen to the consumers but they also transfer their loss as well.
Olivar further added that "The power sector has to hold more repair and maintenance services of their power plants to accommodate high power demand during the summer months, he said. This meant additional expenses for power generating and distributing companies and more charges on electricity consumers. That’s the law of supply and demand."
Yes sir that may be the law of supply and demand but that is also the law of unpreparedness and Mr. Olivar sir, these companies are not prepared.
All of a sudden Malacañang is open to the suggestion of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to forego royalty taxes from indigenous energy sources, such as the Malampaya natural gas plant, to ease the burden of power consumers.
Wait! How come when Enrile proposed it it is taken as constructive but when activists and pro-people suggest it it is nothing more than un-supported ideals and is discarded?
When the people blame and call for the removal of royalties and the EVAT Malacañang balks but when it's known politicians it's acceptable.
Because if I remember before such a proposal was made but I believe was rebuffed as nonesense by Malacañang.
Ah politics indeed. Will something come out of this so called constructive proposal. I doubt it.
After all the government relies on Malampaya royalties and the EVAT to boost government revenues need to reduce its bloating budget deficit. I think the government gets over P9 billion from the Malampaya natural gas project on average.
That's a lot of money that they will lose (from their pockets) should they follow Enrile's recommendation and use the money to boost power distribution and maintenance instead.
There will be a lot of empty political pockets should that occur. And in our government loss of revenue (for their pockets) is a no no.
Why do you think we have a bloated budget deficit?
It's hot!
I don't think I need to say the obvious. Right now it's 10:40 in the evening and the temperature is a balmy 31.9-degrees Celcius. I don't know about you but that's hot.
The saving grace for many is we have either electric fans or air conditioning. Now if only we have the electricity to run them.
Right now in Metro Manila it seems rolling 3 hour brown outs are back. Of course it's better than the 12 hour ones we used to have back in the 90's but 3 hours is still a long time.
And since it's rolling you can have it either in the morning, afternoon, evening, or at night.
I'm sort of unsure which time would be the best time to have no power. On the one hand if you have it in the morning then you lose productivity for 3 hours for those with no generators.
For those with generators you have limited productivity along with the added cost of the generators and fuel.
If it's in the early evening when everyone is on their way home then it's a little better. Of course without power then the traffic lights won't work so a 1 hour commute becomes 3.
But then again since there's no electricity you're good to be stuck in traffic anyway - and I can just feel those evil stares from people who hate the traffic.
I understand - I hate them too.
Nigh brownouts I don't like either. Personally I can't sleep if I don't have a fan at least blowing some clammy hot air towards me. Even if it's hot it's better than stagnant humid air.
So if there's a brownout I can't sleep. So that means I won't get enough sleep and will be sleepy the next day potentially resulting in lowered productivity.
Ok I know, I know I did not offer any solution but frankly I don't have one. I would suggest the 5-9 time frame would be the best time to have a brownout.
By then work for the day is done and people don't sleep until around 10 anyway.
So they don't get to watch their tele-novellas or the PBA but that's life. And the PBA hasn't been as great since the 80's anyway.
And now Meralco will up their generation charge by P0.93 per kilowatt hour (kWh).
Now that's painful because you're basically paying for electricity you don't have.
And it's not like you'll be cooling off by taking a bath anytime soon because with the low water supply you may find yourself in the business end of rationed water.
Think it won't happen? Just wait until it get's hotter still and no rain in sight.
And when that happens expect more brownouts.
Oh and did I mention that fuel prices also went up.
And with fuel prices up, so too will the fuel used to run the power plants which will then result in another price increase to make up for it.
Ah the vicious cycle never ends.
And I'm sick of wondering why the government didn't have any long term plans for all this.
I mean you would think with their experience of what happened almost 20 years ago they would know better.
Oh wait this is our government we're talking about.
I should have known better.
Ay . . . brownout!!!
We have probably one of the highest power rates in the world. And the service that we get for the amount that we pay is not really commensurate with the costs.
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