By Paulo Loreto Lim

In response to frequent power outages experienced throughout Bacolod City in recent days, Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) President Arnel Lapore, yesterday, denied a lack of power supply contributed to the brownouts but, rather, high temperatures.
He added power interruptions have also been scheduled in order for the utility co-op to conduct maintenance work.
However, according to global weather forecasting services Accuweather, summertime power interruptions have a direct connection with the service provider’s capacity, which is related to the power supply they have at their disposal.
According to a report by Kirstie Hettinga, “During the summer, there is often a higher risk for power outages because people run air conditioners and the extended use of these appliances and others can lead to unexpected demand for electricity.”
She cited the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), noting, “Enough electricity must always be produced to meet demand at every moment.”
Reviewing information provided by the EIA, they discussed varying power generating units, including peak load and base load; Ceneco primarily utilizes the latter.
According to the agency, base load produces electricity at a constant rate and is, many times, unable to accommodate for an increase in demand, such as during the summer; wherein a peak load system adjusts to meet local demand.
EIA also touched upon intermediate load, which Ceneco also has available, whose capacity falls between the two aforementioned methods, and short of the capabilities of a peak load system./WDJ