BACOLOD City – Three electric utility companies recorded a 21-megawatt (MW) power reduction during the 2019 Earth Hour in Negros Occidental.
Public and private power stakeholders joined the switch-off between 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday to support the World Wide Fund for Nature‘s initiative in protecting the planet from climate change and its adverse effects.
The Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) posted the biggest reduction in power use of 12.83 MW.
Ceneco covers consumers in cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, and Silay as well as the towns of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto.
The demand reading conducted an hour before the switch-off was 115.81 MW, and by 9:30 p.m., the demand in all subs-tations dropped to 102.98 MW, said Ceneco Consumer Services Division chief Roel Venus.
“Households and commercial establishments participated in the Earth Hour by voluntarily switching off their lights,” he said.
Venus noted business establishments are now rationally conserving power in the city to address the pressing issue on energy conservation which is already a global concern.
The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, which serves consumers in the north, from E.B. Magalona to San Carlos City, recorded a power use reduction of about 4 MW.
Various groups also hosted an Earth Hour event held at a mall in Bacolod City.
Around 500 participants convened to partake in the ceremonial lights-off and energy saving talks. (With a report from PNA/PN)
