utilities

Power use hits record

LA PRENSA

more juice:Low water levels have forced companies to generate more carbon-based power.1027370

Increased demand and the lack of rain have maxed out the country's capacity to generate electricity.

Thermal generation plants are working at maximum capacity to meet the demand. In recent days, an estimated 51 percent of the country's electricity has been generated using fossil fuels.

The two diesel-powered engines owned by Empresa de Generación, S.A. (Egesa) have been operating 24 hours a day since last Saturday, company manager Carlos Carcache said.

The plant, which has the capacity to generate 40 megawatts, is one of the most expensive for the company to operate, but falling output from the company's hydro plants have forced the company to use it.

The two engines consume 8,000 gallons of diesel per hour, or 192,000 gallons per day. The company, however, is limited by contractual obligations to sell the plant's power at $422 per megawatt, meaning that using the engines is a losing proposition for the firm.

The Pedregal Power Plant is also working at 100 percent capacity, said manager Eduardo De La Guardia.

If the country doesn't receive a healthy amount of rain soon, which would replenish the Fortuna and Bayano reservoirs, the government will be forced to begin rationing electricity.

"The energy saving measures should have been done a month ago in order not to reach this point," De La Guarda said.

While supplies are low, the demand for energy has never been greater. Last Wednesday the demand reached 59,000 megawatts, a new record. Usage peaks in the early afternoon, when many businesses are running air conditioners.

Based on this situation, the government will begin opening their offices at 7 a.m. and closing at 1 p.m. so that demand during peak usage hours are reduced by 100 to 200 megawatts.