#electricity

Peak electricity demand for this year is expected by May according to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), the independent market operator of the Wholesale Electric­ity Spot Market (WESM). For its part, the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) has called for harnessing renewable energy sources to decrease dependence on conventional power sources such as coal. Historically, with the exception of 2020 when lockdowns drastically decreased demand, data from the Department of Energy (DOE) electricity consumption across the country peaks in the May-June period. Water is scarce during the hot dry season, when Filipino electricity consumption reaches its peak. Then again, is full 100 percent renewable energy feasible to supply our electricity needs? Average monthly consumption of electricity in the Philippines is usually lower in November than in May, yet for some reason, Filipinos have sustained voting during the hot dry season. With sufficient power capacity, it may virtually remove the prospect of electricity being blamed for electoral losses. MERALCO has announced lower electricity prices this holiday season. Read more in our articles including "Luzon peak energy demand exceeds pre-pandemic level, blackouts possible by May" and "Explainer: What Happens If There Are Blackouts On Election Day?".