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The Department of Energy (DOE) said Friday it is deploying artificial intelligence and big data to ensure there is no market collusion when power plants are simultaneously offline.
“If you are concerned about the possibilities of collusion to drive up prices, this administration has begun commissioning a study using AI and big data analytics to identify such behavior,” the Energy Secretary said , Raphael Lotilla.
“If the study showed a correlation, it would be brought to the attention of the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Philippine Competition Commission. The power plants are aware of what we are doing,” Lotilla said.
The energy chief made the statement following four consecutive days of red and yellow alerts on the grid in Luzon and Visayas due to insufficient generation capacity.
System operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines placed the Luzon network on red alert from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and yellow alert from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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The NGCP said 19 power plants were in forced shutdown, while three were operating with decommissioned capacities, for a total of 2,284.3 megawatts unavailable on the grid.
A red alert status is issued when the power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and transmission network regulation requirements. A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the emergency requirements of the transmission network.
Lotilla said electricity supply could improve over the weekend as they expect two major power plants to be back up and running.
“We hope that the other factories will not be affected and will operate optimally,” he said.
Lotilla also requested cooperation so that power plants could be built.
“We need to encourage the construction of new power plants and everyone can contribute. Some power plants are facing delays due to permits. Often there has also been opposition even to renewable energy plants and the completion of transmission lines,” Lotilla said.
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