On Contracts and Services
The water supplier in our area recently ‘upgraded’ their service and as a consequence, all of us homeowners have to sign a new contract. I am a guy that likes to read ‘fine print’, the excuse people make when a contract goes awry. Believe me, reading the ‘fine print’ on every contract is worth the extra effort.
How do contracts relate to electricity? It’s in the service. My water supply contract is vague on certain issues like:
a) How much water pressure will the supplier provide?
b) Is water service for 24 hours daily?
The same is true for my ISP provider. Their promo says “Up to XXX Mbps” but the contract states that “due to the nature of the service, the promo is not attainable and the supplier is not responsible for it, blah blah blah”. This, to me, is a cop out of the supplier.
Electricity suppliers, on the other hand, have to contend with the laws of the land, a Code where conditions must be met before supplying electricity. To quote some standards:
a) Voltage regulation must be between 110% and 90% of the nominal voltage
b) Frequency must be between 60.3Hz to 59.7Hz
c) Voltage Harmonics must be less than 5% THD at PCC
d) Voltage Unbalance must be less than 2.5% at PCC
I don’t think water and ISP suppliers will be able to provide standards like this even after a long time. Comparing my water and electric bill having zero consumption, the service charge for water is much, much higher. This means the service that do not provide standards is more expensive than the service with a multitude of them.
I am proud of these standards; this means that electricity that goes to my home is uniform and predictable. I can safely buy an electric appliance knowing that the electricity will power the appliance and not damage it. And I know that the quality of electricity that goes to Mr. Rich’s mansion or Mr. Politician’s manor will be the same as mine. I cannot say the same thing for my water supply; an overhead tank is out since I cannot be sure that the water pressure would be able to fill it.
People often take electricity for granted. They must realize that the service entails a lot more than just plugging in the nearest outlet.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Philippine Voltage Standards
The Philippine Distribution Code Chapter 3 deals with performance standards for electricity distribution and supply. Starting with Article 3.2, electricity standards in voltage variation, frequency variation and voltage harmonics are spelled out in (IMHO) the simplest terms possible. So far, so good.
Problems start when equipment manufacturers start selling products that will not operate under the electricity standards that utilities follow. A computer that will run on 100 V with a plus/minus 5% voltage tolerance will have problems if the power being supplied to it have a bandwidth of plus/minus 10%. This is the point where vendors and utilities often clash, the vendors claiming ‘dirty power’ and the utilities branding the equipment ‘substandard’.
This is where the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) come in. The Philippines is a signatory to the IEC, which means the country will use IEC standards for their electricity supply. Countries exporting electrical appliances and equipment must follow IEC standards in their equipment to be able to put the IEC mark in their products. Products with the IEC mark simply means that the equipment will run in any country that follows IEC standards, similar to that of the CE mark in Europe for low-voltage equipment.
This vital information is not widely disseminated. Procuring costly equipment that will not operate properly in the buyer’s country is a common occurrence. Equipment specifications must be clear to both the buyer and the vendor before consummating any sale. Consulting the utility is a requirement before installing large motor loads; it would also be prudent to ask them for advice before installing expensive equipment that does not fall under that category.
Cooperation between the utilities, equipment manufacturers and the consumers will go a long way in preventing problems with electrical equipment. It would also save people from a lot of trouble and money.
Problems start when equipment manufacturers start selling products that will not operate under the electricity standards that utilities follow. A computer that will run on 100 V with a plus/minus 5% voltage tolerance will have problems if the power being supplied to it have a bandwidth of plus/minus 10%. This is the point where vendors and utilities often clash, the vendors claiming ‘dirty power’ and the utilities branding the equipment ‘substandard’.
This is where the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) come in. The Philippines is a signatory to the IEC, which means the country will use IEC standards for their electricity supply. Countries exporting electrical appliances and equipment must follow IEC standards in their equipment to be able to put the IEC mark in their products. Products with the IEC mark simply means that the equipment will run in any country that follows IEC standards, similar to that of the CE mark in Europe for low-voltage equipment.
This vital information is not widely disseminated. Procuring costly equipment that will not operate properly in the buyer’s country is a common occurrence. Equipment specifications must be clear to both the buyer and the vendor before consummating any sale. Consulting the utility is a requirement before installing large motor loads; it would also be prudent to ask them for advice before installing expensive equipment that does not fall under that category.
Cooperation between the utilities, equipment manufacturers and the consumers will go a long way in preventing problems with electrical equipment. It would also save people from a lot of trouble and money.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Power Generation
The National Power Crporation (www.npc.gov.ph) is the dominant power producer in the Philippines. Created in 1938, this government controlled corporation (GOCC) was mandated to provide electric power to areas not serviced by Meralco.
During Martial Law (1972), Pres. Marcos declared that NPC has the monopoly of the power generating industry. All power plants are to be owned and operated by NPC. However, a power crisis (i.e. shortage) during the early 1990s forced the government to look to the private sector. Using the emergency powers granted by Congress, Pres. Ramos relaxed the 60 Pinoy-40 Foreigner rule on Philippine investments stated in the constitution. Today, the private sector has an installed capacity of over 4,000 MW. This includes the biggest plants in the country today - the 1,500 MW gas plant in Ilijan, the 1,000 MW gas plant in Sta. Rita and the 1,200 MW coal plant in Sual.
The passage of the EPIRA Law in 2002 marks the end of the government monopoly in the power sector. Under the law, NPC must sell 70% of their generating capacity by the end of 2009. Presidential elections are scheduled for May 2010 and no selling of government assets will be allowed 6 moths before that.
However, an amendment in EPIRA was filed in Congress. This will allow NPC to retain 50% of their generating capacity. Authored by the president's son, this amendment is certain to be passed in the lower House.
A protest letter from a group of foreign businessmen, supported by members of an influential group of local businesmen, questions this amendment that comes so late in the game. Senators allied to the president gave the group leaders a dressing down during a hearing.
It remains to be seen whether the president will sign this amendment to let NPC control 50% of the generation market. The whole country is waiting.
During Martial Law (1972), Pres. Marcos declared that NPC has the monopoly of the power generating industry. All power plants are to be owned and operated by NPC. However, a power crisis (i.e. shortage) during the early 1990s forced the government to look to the private sector. Using the emergency powers granted by Congress, Pres. Ramos relaxed the 60 Pinoy-40 Foreigner rule on Philippine investments stated in the constitution. Today, the private sector has an installed capacity of over 4,000 MW. This includes the biggest plants in the country today - the 1,500 MW gas plant in Ilijan, the 1,000 MW gas plant in Sta. Rita and the 1,200 MW coal plant in Sual.
The passage of the EPIRA Law in 2002 marks the end of the government monopoly in the power sector. Under the law, NPC must sell 70% of their generating capacity by the end of 2009. Presidential elections are scheduled for May 2010 and no selling of government assets will be allowed 6 moths before that.
However, an amendment in EPIRA was filed in Congress. This will allow NPC to retain 50% of their generating capacity. Authored by the president's son, this amendment is certain to be passed in the lower House.
A protest letter from a group of foreign businessmen, supported by members of an influential group of local businesmen, questions this amendment that comes so late in the game. Senators allied to the president gave the group leaders a dressing down during a hearing.
It remains to be seen whether the president will sign this amendment to let NPC control 50% of the generation market. The whole country is waiting.
Power Distribution
Power distribution in the Philippines is dominated by Meralco. Not surprising, since the company sells above 60% of all the power produced in the country. It has been around since 1903 and has passed from its American founders to the present Pilipino owners.
Recently, the company is on the headlines as a government bureaucrat paraded himself as the messiah of electricity prices. A lot of people were fooled, which is not surprising considering the lack of common knowledge of the average Pinoy on the subject.
What disturbed me enough to establish this blog is that some people are exporting their lack of knowledge in Cyberspace. As one who holds his engineering profession dear, this blogger will endeavor to correct the myths and misinformation that is prevalent in the communities (and in several other places in Cyberspace) that this blogger is a member of.
So let the games begin.
Recently, the company is on the headlines as a government bureaucrat paraded himself as the messiah of electricity prices. A lot of people were fooled, which is not surprising considering the lack of common knowledge of the average Pinoy on the subject.
What disturbed me enough to establish this blog is that some people are exporting their lack of knowledge in Cyberspace. As one who holds his engineering profession dear, this blogger will endeavor to correct the myths and misinformation that is prevalent in the communities (and in several other places in Cyberspace) that this blogger is a member of.
So let the games begin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
