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Why I (somewhat) disagree with Aaron

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My son, Aaron, who writes on this site weekly, is a pretty smart guy.  I wonder where he got his smarts from? 😉

This week, he wrote an article about the fact that we are experiencing some pretty long brownouts in Davao right now.  Aaron gave some reasons why he thinks that Davao Light is to blame, or at least has some blame, in the current power crisis that the City is experiencing.

Like I said, Aaron is a pretty intelligent guy, and I usually agree with what he says.  This time, though, I mostly disagree with his thoughts and analysis of our power situation.  Let me go through his various points on why Davao Light is to blame for the current crisis, and share my thoughts on each point and why I disagree.

They have had months to know

One thing that Aaron argues is that Davao Light has had “months” to know that a crisis is underway and they did not prepare for it.  Truth is that the situation has been bad and been known about for years.  I remember back in 2006 reading a news article, and then writing about it on another of my websites.  The article was about the power crisis that would be hitting Mindanao.  The lack of power generation, and other reasons why would be in a crisis situation in Mindanao in terms of our ability to provide electricity.

During the past years, a number of fairly substantial power plants have been built on the island.  Almost exclusively coal fired power plants around the island, but also some additional hydro plants have been put into operation in the past 10 years.  So, things have been done to alleviate the problem.

So, why is there is there still a power problem?

Well, there are several reasons.  Many new coal fired plants have been held up because people are protesting because they don’t like generating power using coal.  They feel that it is a dirty technology.  I am not an engineer or a power expert.  I read that there are new technologies that allow coal to be used in a clean way.  I also read others say that it is not true what we hear about clean coal.  For me, I like having electricity, so if we must have some technologies that are not as clean as others, I choose to have electricity.  I do believe that we should have a mix of technologies, some are cleaner than others, but we should use all technologies available.

Maria Cristina Falls

One of the major sources of electricity on the island of Mindanao over the past decades has been hydro electric power.  Much of it created using various dams and waterfalls along the Agus River.  One of the big sources is from Maria Christina Falls, which is in Iligan City, in Northern Mindanao.  In fact, most of the hydro power comes from this region.

Maria Cristina Falls
Maria Cristina Falls

There are a couple of problems with the hydro generation in Mindanao at this time.

  • Poor maintenance of the system.  Much of the equipment in the hydro generation system in Mindanao is very old, and I mean from the 50s or even before that.  That means multiple breakdowns and also inefficiencies.
  • Rivers that need to be dredged.  Many of the rivers have a real build up of silt and lack depth because of it.  That causes problems for some of the generation capability, and leads to less power being available for consumers.
  • El Nino.  Because of the El Nino weather pattern that the world is experiencing this year, that means drought here in Mindanao.  Drought means that there is a lot less water going over the falls and in the rivers, and that means problems for generating electricity through those means.

Why doesn’t Davao Light fix this?

Davao Light
Davao Light

So, if the three problems listed above are causing such a problem, why doesn’t Davao Light and Power Company fix the problems? Well, Davao Light is just a distribution company.  They really don’t have the right or authority to go fix the problems.  They just buy electricity from the companies that have power and generate power, and they distribute the power that they buy to the energy consumers in Davao City.  Davao Light cannot go to the dams or the waterfalls and do maintenance, they do not own the facilities.  Of course, Davao Light cannot change the weather.

Davao Light’s parent company is Aboitiz, and Aboitiz has built some energy plants, primarily coal fired plants.  I believe they have also put up some hydro plants in the Davao area over the past decade as well.  Davao Light buys the power generated by these plants that are owned by Aboitiz.

So, yes, I can agree with Aaron that Davao Light has some liability in this particular area, since it is their parent company that is involved, but only indirect responsibility.

It takes years

Putting up new power plants cannot be done in a few months or even a few years.  It will take at least a few years to even get governmental approval for power plants to be built. That is not the fault of Davao Light. No matter what type of power is considered, there will be people who will protest it.  There are people who are against solar, against wind, against coal, and especially against nuclear.  Believe it or not, a lot of people here in the Philippines are begging for nuclear energy to be implemented.  We, and other residents of the Philippines, want to have electricity!

But, Aaron argues that the people with power over the situation have had months to prepare.  Realistically, it would take 10 years or so to be able to implement the changes needed to ensure power supply. So, what it comes down to is this… let’s get started!  Let’s put up some serious solar power operations in Mindanao.  Let’s put up some wind power generation.  Yeah, let’s do some more coal fired plants too.  We have some serious geothermal operations on Mt. Apo, can we increase that too?

The bottom line is, let’s have some power!  But, I can’t see how Davao Light is seriously to blame for the current problems.

Don’t you think that Davao Light wants power?

Davao Light is a business.  They make money by selling electricity to their clients.  Right now, if you look at their webpage and their Facebook, you will see a lot of super pissed off customers.  People are cussing them out.  People are very mad at them.  Do you think that Davao Light is enjoying this?  No, I don’t think so.  I am sure that if Davao Light could have an unlimited supply of power tomorrow, they would love that.  With power being short, it is making their lives difficult.  From everything I see, it would seem that the people at Davao Light are doing all they can to provide power to the people of Davao City.  Problem is, there just is not much power available for various reasons.

I choose to cut them some slack, but keep pushing them to improve the situation.

What do you think?  Actually, Aaron, I would like to hear your response on this, since you seem to feel that Davao Light is responsible for the problems.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Well I think both of you are correct. Another thing that is wrong is the energy put. 220 is double the amount of power that we use for 95% of the power in the usa. 110 is the best power to use with out having to double the output for every single home and building. I will agree that they knew that El Nino was coming and knew that the weather pattern was going to cause a drought or at the very least, way less water fall for the hydro plants. Same thing the last 4 years in California when we had the drought, all of our lakes that help produce hydro power were in many cases almost dry, prompting the state to ask people to conserve not only water, but energy as well, specifically during peak times so that rolling black outs did not have to happen or have to be so long. So did Davao know months ago, yes, should they have geared up and talked with the providers to figure out how to prevent the brown outs, yes they should have. Heck they should have planned it last year since the El Nino has been known for over a year. Do they need to get more or new reliable power sources, yes they do. Wind and solar would be some of the fastest and cheapest ways to start providing new power. But its going to have to educate the people of mindanao on these new styles of reusable energy. As for nuclear power, the huge amount of risk out way the benifits. Having a nuclear plant comes with huge security issues. Maybe everyone gets a hamster??

    • Hi Brent – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have to disagree about solar being one of the cheap ways of generating energy. The cost of solar in the Philippines is huge. Because of that, solar, at this point is not a viable option in most cases.

    • well true to a point. the issues is that the island cant handle the power that it requires now. something that has been know for many years, but as with most things, money never gets to the problem, it only gets to the pockets of those in control. For example those that own Davao Power. If a actual money trail was followed from everyone that pays to where that money ends, people would be out looking for heads to roll. 🙂

    • Oh, money gets tot he problem. How many new plants have been built in the last 5 or 6 years? A lot. But, the population is growing fast, and they need more new plants. It takes at least a decade to get a new plant online.

    • I’m not an expert, but simply repeating what one of my friend’s son explained to me. He is an engineer for some of the large wind farms being put into operation in the Midwest USA.

      He stated that without huge grants from the government the cost of the wind farms being put in cost more to install than what they can save or provide a return before they are worn out.

      He gave me a breakdown of the infrastructure to support them and the cost of manufacturing the windmill are and it was amazing.

      • Yeah, one problem is that the government here won’t subsidize crazy stuff like that… it would be up to private industry to do that, and they are not going to throw money away on things that don’t make a profit! 🙂

    • When you are renting your house, it does not work. A solar system that would provide the electricity that we would need would cost a Million pesos or so. It will take 15+ years to recoup that cost through the savings on buying the electricity. If I move out after 5 years, I just give the owner of the home the solar equipment for free? How can somebody who rents make it work financially? It can’t happen.

    • most of our area here now where we live is either all solar or wind power. took arron out to see the wind farms when he was here. As for the solar, I know that many Solar companies around the world are installing the units for free and what you get is free power and what they get is free locations to place their grids. would be something to try ad get started in Davao. Then your out nothing

    • well the average is $20 and less per month you pay the solar companies for what your homes uses. Many of my friends and my sister now have it and they have paid a average of $15 per month vs the $300 a month before. but paid zero for the solar or install.

      • I’ve got a similar solar system and what you don’t see is the subsity that the government pay the solar installer. Solar power is not cheap.

      • Government at federal and state lavels is subsidizing all that crazy “green” energy…. that’s why it seems cheap to the home energy user. But taxes are paying for it.

    • Like I said, I don’t live in your area. You cannot pay the power company here $20 per month to get solar. Here, it is illegal to even sell excess solar power back to the utility, so they don’t do solar at all through the electric company. We are in two different places, I have to accept what is available to me, and you can enjoy the benefits that you hve there. As far as I can tell, it is that simple.

  2. 220 is the Voltage (the available push) NOT the power. There are pros and Cons 220 vs 110, but they have more to do with transmission losses (220 better) and Safety (110 better). Power is the Voltage times the Amperage equals wattage.. Amperage depends what loads you put on the circuit.. So a 1500 watt stove top burner is the same power 220 or 110, just different amperages needed. So more loads using power, the bigger the draw.

    • Yes, and it is all coming down from a much higher voltage in the transmission lines, so it is not like they have a problem achieving 220 over 110.

  3. Thank you for the Paul Harvey “Rest of the story.” (Boy I guess I am starting to show my age a little.)

    Looking at both stories shows that there is no easy answer. At our house, located a distance west of Dipolog, in addition to the lack of power, they are struggling with no water in the municipal water system, at least in the rural area.

    It is interesting that the push back against some types of power generation is the same there as here in the US. The, “Not in my backyard” mindset has stalled development.

    It appears that the casual attitude toward maintenance and preventive maintenance works on a large scale as well as in the village if the hydroelectric stations and infrastructure are facing that issue.

    Davao Light has placed themselves in a situation where they are selling a service that they, at the present, know they cannot completely fulfill. I agree with you, Bob, that they have to be very unhappy. I am sure that they are happy that they do not operate in the USA where lawyers would be sharpening up their pencils for a class action lawsuit. I have not been to Davao yet, but one of the saving virtues for Davao Light has to be the willingness to grumble but accept the “out of stock” mindset.

    I agree from the information provided that there is enough blame to pass around.

    • Hi LeRoy – NIMBY is pervasive the world over, I guess. 🙂 For me, I like having electricity, so my back yard is wide open! 🙂

      It is a tough situation, and only getting worse at this point!

    • Bob Martin Infrastructure and Geography. A coal plant here can get coal Cheap via train from 3000 miles away. Natural Gas pipeline go hundreds and thousands of miles. Areas that generate Electricity cheap are often far from the usage and Transmission lines provide it. From your old place in Ridgefield, you lived with a few miles of all of these Pipelines, Rails adn HV transmission lines. Portland/Vanvouver area is good example. Hydro from Columbia River, Wind farms Eastern Oregon/Washington and Trains from North Dakota full of Coal and Oil, all make Portland area good for power and sales to California via Transmission lines.

    • Hey Tom – many people are unaware, but coal is mined right here in Mindanao! In fact, down near GenSan they are building coal powered generating plants right at the coal mine! They mind the coal and put it directly to work right at the same location! Taht is pretty cheap, my friend.

    • Works locally for Mindanao, if the “Greenies” don’t stop it as “Too dirty”. I used to be Sierra Club, but most “green” groups have gotten fanatical stupid.

    • Yeah, like I said in the article, I like having power. Let the green groups protest in the dark, if I can do anything about it, I will be enjoying the light, though. 😉

      • Bob, I work on a paper mill and we have our own power plant using coal as fuel. Our emission is way below the government standards because of the technology we are using. I’m sure the other coal power plants in the country use this similar technology. After all, they will not be allowed to operate if they do not comply with government regulations.

  5. I actually had the privilege of touring some hydro plants here. One of our riding group members is one of the original engineers and was in charge of the plants when they started up in the 70’s. I am able to compare apples to apples in this case since I held contracts for the Corp of Engineers in my place in the US and have been over every square inch of the facilities for several years. Without trying to make disparaging remarks I can say there are huge differences in design, function, and maintenance. The American hydro plants have a row of house sized turbines that harness the entire energy of the rivers on multiple locations. The ones that I toured in Iligan had a Volkswagen sized turbine that was fed by a diverter tube. On the way out of Cagayan we passed a solar plant that was missing several panels and seemed to be in a state of disrepair. You are totally correct about Davao Power and Light being at the mercy of the suppliers.

    • Yes, Tom Popp already went over that above….I was just pointing out why most all nations, especially 3rd world ones prefer 220. Wire cost savings and also as stated by Tom lower transmission losses. Like most decisions,,it’s MONEY…..

      • I have read that what is used in PH is actually one of the most efficient because it is 220 V at 60 Hz. Many other countries foreign to the USA use 220 / 240 at 50 Hz which is less efficient than 60 Hz. I think the EU standard is now, at least on paper 230 V 50 Hz.

          • Inductors such as a transformer requires more laminations ( metal ) that is designed for use on 50 Hz than a transformer designed to do the same job on a 60Hz system. I am not sure about these days but back in the Vacuum Tube era ( I may be dating myself here LOL ) Aircraft electronics operated from a 400 Hz AC supply, less laminations in the transformers = lighter weight.

            As I recall I think the ” Power Factor ” difference from 50 to 60 Hz is 20%.

            AC motors is another area where frequency comes into play in efficiency. Things years ago that were sold worldwide such as phono turntables, tape recorders and similar may have used the same motor. To compensate the difference in motor speed you used either a 50 Hz or 60 Hz pulley to achieve the appropriate speed. Running a 50Hz motor on 60Hz makes the motor run hotter. The same might apply in reverse.

            Maybe you don’t have enough power to go around where you are Bob, at least not at the moment but I think 220V at 60 Hz could be one of the most ” efficient ” in the world.

    • Hi David – Davao does not have a rainy season. Up north they have rainy season, but in Davao the weather is relatively the same throughout all 12 months.

    • ok say when we have 2 or 3 days of rain and drizzle which i have seen here…would it not be a liability if you were depending on power in the home for income earning…I had solar panels in aus and experienced this problem. but that was many yrs ago, maybe the panels are improved these days. I am interested in any feedback as i am seriously thinking of getting 2 panels installed just enough to keep lights and fans going during brownouts.

    • I don’t know of anybody who goes solar and cuts off their service from the power company. Have both. Then, if your batteries go dry on a rain day, you still have the backup of DLPC supplying you (if they can!). 🙂

    • Rainy days are reduced for Solar but you still get some power from solar. Pacific NW and Germany both have that issue and it works, in combination with other sources, just fine.

    • hi iain…i am not concerned about earning income at home as i dont have any online business unfortunately…but many on this forum do, that’s why i mentioned it….your suggestion looks great i will have to check it out, thanks mate

    • A well designed home solar power system is over built to compensate for obvious losses, days with less sun and dirty glass on the panels (Most don’t clean them everyday) But like Bob said, best to stay on the grid along with having solar or wind power….(Well unless you just want to be green and have a fat enough wallet to make a system large enough to get off the grid completely, (but most won’t live long enough to see it pay for itself,,,,)

    • Solar Myth 2: Solar doesn’t work in cool, cloudy, or foggy climates. Fact: Solar panels work just fine in ambient light and will produce significant energy in the fog or on overcast days. In fact, solar panels are actually more efficient at cooler temperatures than hot ones.

    • they must have improved then….because when i had mine some 15 yrs ago in aus it was a problem in our winter season..so you had to stay connected to the grid or tolerate freezing cold showers,lol

    • Solar panels have come along a lot in 15 years. They have also gotten cheaper – you get more watts for your buck now. Wind power has gotten better too, but it is very location dependent, whereas solar power is anywhere you can see the sky. Germany, of all places, is one of the world leaders in the use of solar at home. http://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy/wind-systems

  8. Bob, I can’t wait for next weeks article about “What Bob is doing to get around the brown outs”! I’m fairly sure about some of what you’re going to write, the rest is going to be your resourcefulness!

  9. The cheapest way to power a home is to just get a portable Generator. a 5-6K is more than enough to run a standard home. They are cheap and easy to use and the best part is you hook them up into the grid of your house with a swith and when the power goes out, you just flip the swith and turn on the generator and Bamm you have power to run the entire house. I only use a 3500 wt to run my entire house when the power goes out. 🙂 here is the ones I use all the time
    http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators.html

  10. Hi Bob,

    Your article makes several very good points. I have to say I don’t disagree with you on any point you made.

    We have lived in Manila for about 2 months currently and have only had 1 brief brownout-less than an hour. Honestly I am surprised at the fact we haven’t had more brownouts in this heavily populated region.

    In reference to your dilemna there, I am wondering about the possibility of purchasing and using a portable diesel powered generator to power your personal residence during brownouts. Is it possible and/or legally allowed to operate a personal generator to power your residence during a brownout?

    When we lived in the Puget Sound region of the U.S. we experienced power failures several times per year due to strong wind storms that would blow trees into the high voltage transmission lines. It was very common for homeowners and renters alike to own a portable gas or diesel generator in the 8k-12k range to provide electricity during those brownouts that lasted several days sometimes.

    As you have said many times, I know and understand that life in Philippines is not life in the U.S. so I am just asking because I am not familiar yet with all the details of living here, and for sure I don’t know about living in Davao region.

    I hope and pray that the power situation will get resolved there, for the sake of everyone involved.

    Best Regards,

    • Hi Dustin. Manila always gets priority on resources so it is not surprising that you are not affected.

      Yes, generators are legal, but they certainly are not 10 to 12k. My friend just bought one and spent 140k.

      Given that we rarely gave brownout here in Davao, I don’t consider it cost effective. We just need to make it through the current crisis.

      • Thanks Bob.

        To clarify what I meant–the common generators I was referring to were in the range of 8-12 KW Kilowatt capacity. I didn’t mean to note any price tag. I have no idea what they cost here. Sorry about that.

        It’s good to know that it isn’t a common problem, recurring problem for you there.

        • Corry I misinterpreted the numbers.

          When things are normal we get about 15 minutes of brownout per year. I can’t see spending much money on that small problem.

  11. I understand. If it’s an average of 15 minutes per year, there’s no financial justification to spend all that money to set up a personal generator.

  12. It is a predicament, we know that coal generation probably contributes to a thinning of our ozone and climate change, yet it is cheap. We need electricity. Coal will continue for now.

    Good thing, the brownouts here in Cebu City are rare. And we do have generator back up. Hope it improves down there.

    The best advice, conserve! As an American, we are wasteful and one of the largest consumers of power per capita in the world. The Philippines is one of the lowest per capita. I do my best to cut wherever I can to reduce my carbon footprint. You can do it, you just have to pay attention and try.

    • Normally, we rarely have brownouts in Davao. We had significant brownouts last in 2010, just before the Presidential elections. Now, 2016 with elections in full swing, we are having it again. Is there a connection? Many people say it is so. But, normally we have maybe 15 minutes per year of brownout. Best strategy right now, as far as I am concerned, is to just bear it. I can’t see spending the monty on a generator with our normal brownout situation.

      • 15 minutes per year? I’d like to know where that figure comes from.

        You might recall the discussion on this forum in 2014 where there was certainly more than 15 minutes per year.

        From my recollection of Davao, and I obviously bow to your longer living period in the area, we have problems every year at this time of year. Every year the same excuses except this year we have the El Nino to use.

        Davao will have serious problems for the foreseeable future unless things get sorted out. There are huge infrastructure projects planned which will increase the population of the city and the power suppliers are having trouble coping now. What will it be like in a few years time unless there is a significant increase in the production of electricity?

        • Hi AJ – I have lived in the Philippines for 16 years. Here is my brownout experience:

          2000-2002 – Lived in GenSan and the brownouts were daily and ranged from 30 minutes to 4 hours per day (longer was more common)
          2002-present living in Davao with these experiences:

          2002-2009 – Brownouts were few and far between, also of short duration.
          2010 – From mid Feb through Election day (May 2010) we had brownouts from 2 to 4 hours daily, sometimes twice per day. Very similar to today, but a bit longer today.

          2011 – Virtually no brownouts. The few brownouts that occurred were of a duration of 5 minutes or so.
          2012 – Same as 2011
          2013 – same as 2011 and 2012
          2104 – In April we had brownouts of 1-2 hours, but this was actually only for about 2 weeks out of the year. The rest of the year was a few 5 minute brownouts.
          2014 – similar to 2014.
          2016 – Brownouts have been significant, especially this month.

          That is what I have experienced, if what you experience is different, I have no quarrel with that, but I am only giving my personal experience, and accurately so.

          • So all that adds up to 15 minutes per year? It is that figure that I am questioning.

            I do live in a different are to you so there will be differences of course.

            The fact is that they are getting worse Bob and Mindanao doesn’t seem to do much to sort the problem out.

            • Well, let’s have a look at what I wrote:

              20002 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20003 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20004 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20005 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20006 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20007 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20008 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20009 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20010 – Significant brownouts during the Presidential election, after that, yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20011 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20012 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              20013 – Yes, 15 minutes or so per year.
              2014 – Some brownouts in April, not much the rest of the year.
              and so on.

              It is much worse now, you get no argument from me (I wrote the article after all!). What will it be like after the election? We’ll have to see.

              As I said, this is MY experience, yours is probably different, but this is my honest experience. Most years, we get very little.

  13. “My son, Aaron, who writes on this site weekly, is a pretty smart guy. I wonder where he got his smarts from?”

    I hope that Feyma sees what a nice thing you said about her. 🙂

  14. Bob – You are correct about Davao Light being a consumer of someone elses power generation capability. That is the main problem with the whole system here in the Philippines, too much government control of something that should be left to private enterprise. The Philippine Electrical Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) has control of who gets power and how much they are allotted based on a system that is corrupt at its best. A consumer business like electrical power generation and distribution should be in the hands of private enterprise and not rest solely with the Philippine government.

    • Hi Tim – I am not sure where you come from. I am from the USA, maybe you are too, I don’t know. Where I lived in the USA, the US Government did the production of electricity, a private company did the distribution, juts like we have in Davao. Our power there was generated by the Bonneville Dam, which is a US Government owned facility. If there is a different system that is superior in performance, let’s do it! I have no quarrels about that!

  15. Hi Bob, first of all hope you are well onto recovery from the eye operation.

    Does anyone understand the extras on the electricity bill. Its seems the bill stays about the same even with brownouts?

    But back to the brownouts…… another factor could be is build it cheap and expect to get more downtime…even on new plants
    And i doubt we are being told the full story as we usually find out later.

  16. RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9513
    “Renewable Energy Act of 2008” “Net-Metering”
    just to let you know that it is not illegal to use solar and sell back what you produce to the philippines, actually they encourage it , but the rate they give you is way low, so the outcome of spending all the money to supply your house should not be to be able to collect money from the net-metering. it should only be if you want to have power when they cut you off for 5 hours. So yes if you have the money and want to solar your own house and keep it on grid you can, and only use the solar when DLP cuts you, and the rest of the time they will net-meter you, but you have to apply with them to do so.

    • Hi Joseph – Thanks for sharing that. I have two different friends who do not know each other. Over the past 5 years, they both decided to get solar energy, and both had the same experience that they were told that they cannot legally sell it back to the power grid. I am only relating what I was told by each of them at different times. If your information is correct, I thank you for sharing it.

  17. oh wow, i never knew any country in the world it was illegal to sell electricity back to the electric companies. why would they do that when it would help them with use of power? that is very discouraging to know. so they just think they can do it on their own? 5 hours is a long time especially in the heat of the day. so apparently they cant supply all that is needed, so why not take the help. but even if its not allowed in the philippines you can still invest your own money and at least have power with solar on your own when they cant supply it, and another thing, why is it called brownout, when really it would be called Blackout?

    • Why do they call it brownout? Who knows, and really who cares? I mean, why do they call it blackout in other places? We have been without power for the past 4 hours, it is mid day, and it was not black, because the sun was shining, so maybe brownout is a more accurate term. But, why does it matter? 🙂

  18. well maybe they are just asking the power grid to buy from them and directly might not be possible, but net-metering was set up in the philippines to actually help the power company with the power situation, and is very much encouraged by the philippines and power companies to get people to go solar, so it lesson the use from them directly. you can go online and read the republic act for the philippines, it will explain it, and also they can read http://sustainability.aboitiz.com/davaolightpower.html, it talks about Davao Light connects first net metering customer
    As mandated by the Philippine Renewable Energy Act of 2008, distribution utilities shall enter into net metering agreements with qualified customers who have installed RE systems.

    Under net metering, Davao Light will install two electricity meter registers: one to measure power consumed (import) from the utility, and another to measure the energy delivered (export) to the utility. here is a small caption

    So i suggest if your friends already have solar they really need to contact the right people and get started with net-metering if they want that. to each is own if they choose or not

    • Hi Joseph – Yeah, I can’t really say how either of them found out, only that they did find out and passed it along to me. So, my information is not first hand, for sure, but with two independent sources, I thought it to be accurate.

      One thing about the Philippines that we can all agree on, I suspect, is that the law as written on paper is not always the same as how it is implemented.

      Thanks for sharing your valuable information.

  19. hahahaha, bob, seems the power cut is getting on your last nerve, stressing over the little things will kill you man. our time is this afternoon, we just finished the mid day 5 hours, now its afternoon for us. no one likes to be without power , but what else is there to do, unless you have the money and do your own solar. maybe in the future they will get this solved, but until then, live life to the fullest. lol

    Ps. not to be ugly, but this is lasting till the end of May and maybe more than that. gen for me now, and next year solar

    • Stressing? Not sure what you mean. I am not stressed, just working on a new project. We just finished our morning brownout as well, about 4 1/2 hours. Glad it is over si I can get some work done.

  20. I don’t have any data to back this up… but based on our last visit to the PI. My guess is the energy needs are increasing with the boost in prosperity. When Reina and I were first married her family only used lighting without any appliances or other things. Now her brothers all have TV’s, appliances, karaoke, ect. Along with the population explosion. Seems to me that the power company’s would have to increase their output very quickly to just keep up with the demand. I am with you
    Bob though in the 21st century I have come to expect power and am willing to pay the price to get it.

  21. Price for a generator depends on just what all you want to to power. If you want it hooked up to your entire electric panel to power your entire house then yes the prices you quoted are not unrealistic at all. If you can just get by with one to run a couple fans, a refrig, and a few lights just to make you more comfortable for the hours while power is off then you can find one for about 13,000-20,000p at Wilcon.(Yes turn off all your electronics for the duration of the outage, it can be done, you cant use them when your power is off anyway )They are not Honda quality but they are also not Honda prices, for a few hours a day mine is running just fine, and I paid about 16,000p for it, I made two extension cords out of romex and put a 4- way plug on the end of both of them, works for me.

    With all the talented people there that can fix things, if it breaks it can be fixed rather cheaply. When I move there I will bring both my Honda gens with me, but for now the cheap little one I bought at Wilcon has worked just fine and it beats the Hell out of having no electricity at all. They have them as cheap as 8,600p although they are only put out enough power to operate a fan and a light or two and are of cheap quality (27day warranty, hahaha not even 30 days)

    • Hi Bill – Your comment kind of gets into an area that I will be writing about next week, so I am not going to reply in detail, hope you understand. One thing I will say is that I am not talking about a “couple hours per day”. We are talking right now about brownouts that could be up to 11 hours per day. We have schedules for a 5 hour brownout in the morning, another 5 in the afternoon, and a “supplemental” brownout of one hour in the evening. It is not usually all 3 that we get, but that is a possibility.

      As for running a few lights and fans… tune in next week.

  22. You hit the nail squarely on the head Bob. DLPC itself doesn’t generate power they only distribute. Maria Cristina falls generates only a few MW of power, Pulangi and the geothermal power plant are the main source of power in Mindanao. Biggest problem with electric power is that it can’t be stored, whatever is produce must be consume or go to waste.

  23. I read that the Aboitiz Power 300MW coal power plant is compose of 2 units 150 + 150, but only one went online recently but currently having a problem.