Related Studies and Literature

Negative Effects of Power Interruption

A reliable and continuous presence of electricity is more than just comfort or

convenience. It is a necessity. Take power out and industries will grind into a halt – the

nation’s economy as well. Without it today, life gets clumsy and gawky (Amora, 2009).

Republic Act No. 9136(2001) stated that the electric power industry in the Philippines

should be composed of four (4) sectors, namely: Generation, Transmission Distribution

and Supply. Generation Sector is where electricity or electric power is made.

Transmission Sector provides the bulk transfer of electrical power from generation

plants to distribution utilities.

A Distribution Utility (DU), is any Electric Cooperative, Private Corporation,

Government Owned and Controlled Corporation or Local Government Unit for whom

has exclusive franchise rights for a particular area to operate an Electric Power

Distribution System. Distribution Utilities are the ones in-charge of distributing power to

the residential, commercial, institutional and industrial consumers. The scope of work of

the Dus involves the construction, operation and maintenance of power substations and

distribution lines, installation and maintenance of distribution transformers and metering

equipment and ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable and cost-effective electric power to

the end-users. Load Growth or the increase of demand for electric power and energy

consumption is the most significant factor in the management of a distribution system.

Forecasting the increase of Energy Consumption and Demand is essential for planning

the maintenance, operation and expansion of the distribution facility.

 In the study of Buenaventura 2014, it focuses on electrical service reliability on

Baletec-1 in selected barangays of Calatagan, Batangas. It was found out that that the

overall assessment of the respondents on the level of service reliability in terms of

construction services was reliable. However, clearing of line schedule and available

maintenance equipment and machine was assessed less reliable. On the level of

consumers’ satisfaction in construction and maintenance services, the overall

assessment of the respondents was satisfied but interruption duration and action on

complaints and request got the lowest mean score and interpreted as less satisfied. The

results also show that the common problems and complaints encountered by the

consumers were lack of information drive, unavailability of consumer hotline, inadequate

facilities and equipment, and delayed action on service request/complaints.

The study of Francisco (2021) also shows that these problems and complains

have basis as his analyses of his study have shown that in 2021, consumers on

average experience around 5.7 power interruptions a year, translating to a total of 8.8

hours of no electricity. Aggregating based on island group, it was found that consumers

in Luzon experience more frequent power interruptions, while consumers in Visayas

endure longer hours with no electricity. It was also observed that among the list of

causes, insufficient supply of power to ECs emerges as the main driver of frequent and

long hours of power interruptions. Meanwhile, it takes around 1.5 hours to restore

electricity after a power outage, and it also takes the longest to restore when the

damage is done by a major storm disaster.

The study of Akpojedje, et., al (2016) in Nigeria on electric power transmission issues

and rural electrification found out challenges that includes; radial lines with no
redundancies, obsolete substation equipment, overloaded transmission lines and

substations, inadequate coverage of infrastructure, limited funds for developments

projects, high technical and non-technical losses, limited training opportunity,

community issue during project execution, swamping nature of most rural areas,

inadequate maintenance procedure for infrastructure.

In theory, access to electricity can improve socio-economic conditions in

developing countries through its influence on key components of poverty, namely

health, education, income and environment (Kanagawa and Nakata, 2008). Concerning

rural areas, Khandker, Barnes, and Samad (2009) claim that lack of access to energy

and more precisely to electricity is one of the major impediments to economic

development. Chaurey, Ranganathan and Mohanty (2004) argue that a strong

correlation exists between rural poverty and access to electricity because electricity is a

pre-requisite for productive activities. In addition to improving productivity by giving

access to more efficient means of production, access to an electrical grid and better

electricity services could also lead to household time savings and allow them to work

more hours by increasing their access to markets (Bernard and Torero, 2011).

Rural electrification programs seem to be crucial to improve living conditions and

promote development; however, there is also a need for evaluation of such programs’

impacts to determine whether or not interventions are relevant and cost effective.

Evaluations would indeed provide measurements of results and help identify the causal

link between the intervention’s activities and these socio-economic outcomes. Several

impact estimations on various economic development measures have been conducted,

reaching various conclusions.

Ways to Address the Problem of Power Interruption

In the report of Ahmed and Logarta, (2021) many small island grids served by

diesel generators suffer from rolling blackouts and unplanned power outages as a result

of grid instability, inadequate generation capacity, and lack of subsidized fuel. In many

cases, weak daytime demand does not justify 24/7 service. The policy question posed

here is whether it makes sense for the national government to continue to allow

expensive imported fossil fuels to dominate the energy mix of small island grids, or

should it look to modernize the electric power sector overall to ensure affordability and

reliability in the face of rapidly declining costs and technological advances in renewable

energy and storage. Renewable energy can reduce dependence on fossil fuel

generation, and can do so without compromising the availability of power and grid

reliability. Imported diesel may continue to serve as a base-load supply that is flexible

enough to absorb renewable energy generation in the transition from oil-based to

renewable-powered electricity. As Philippine small island grids modernize, renewable

energy technologies and storage can ultimately produce reliable and clean power.

As published by NEA (2019), President Rodrigo Duterte signed the General

Appropriations Act wherein the off-grid areas for the nationwide household electrification

will be prioritized in the program. The government allotted 1.1 billion budgets, an

increase of 38.4 from its 2016 budget for the electrification efforts for remote areas. This

is to enable the Filipinos in provinces and far-flung areas so that they can be capable

and prolific stakeholders in uplifting our societies and trades. Electrification via off-grid

focuses on the economic aspects in terms of financial sustainability.

In light with these problems, rural energy supply problems should be modernized. The

study of Viktorovna (2015) presents the problems of development and modernization of

energy infrastructure priorities in rural areas of the Komi Republic. For the most part of

rural population the achieved level of energy supply is the necessary minimum for the

needs, and it has the low parameters of the energy and economy efficiency. The main

directions of the rural energy supply modernization should be: the gas supply system

development, the electric grid capacity growth and the construction of the modern small

energy technologies (small central heating and power plants, modular boiler plants,

efficient solid fuel boilers). Electricity alone may not be able to create all the conditions

for economic growth, but it is obviously essential for basic human needs and economic

activity (IEA, 2013).

Synthesis

Dalaguit et., al’s (2016) research in electric power supply problems of San

Francisco, Cebu as perceived by the electrical consumers found out that there is an

existing power supply problems as to fuel supply, engine breakdown, maintenance

operation and low voltage.

In Corcuera, a distribution Utility (DU), is any Electric Cooperative, Private

Corporation, Government Owned and Controlled Corporation or Local Government Unit

for whom has exclusive franchise rights for a particular area to operate an Electric

Power Distribution System includes the National Power Corporation and Romblon

Elective Cooperative. Due to the power interruptions experienced by the people of

Barangay Poblacion, there is a need to analyze how it affects their lives. With the local

studies presented, similar study was made by Buenaventura (2014), it was found out
that clearing of line schedule, maintenance of equipment, lack of information drive,

unavailability of consumer hotline, inadequate facilities and equipment, and delayed

action on service request/complaints. These factors should also be taken into account in

this research. In national level, these factors affect rural areas in Luzon as found out by

Francisco (2021) that Luzon experience frequent power interruptions and it takes on

average 1.5 hours to bring back the electric supply. Longer hours are also expected if

caused by weather disturbances such as strong winds brought by a storm a situation

that Corcuera also experienced.

On the other hand, the government takes action on how to solve this problem by

aligning funds for electrification on rural areas. Modernization on distribution facilities

are important to supply the needed amount of electricity. Many studies from foreign

research backed up the idea the improved electrification especially to rural areas will

improve the quality of life of the people.

This research highlights the need to evaluate and analyze why there is frequent

electric interruption in Brgy. Poblacion, Corcuera, Romblon. Local and foreign literature

related to this study could be used to shed light on the problem. Although electrification

and use of modern technology was discussed in this chapter, this research will not

highlight those as it only intends to know the cause of the identified problem.

Theoretical Framework

Conservation of Resources Theory (Hobfoll, 1998) offers a comprehensive

framework for understanding the impact of assessment on emotions and performance

by focusing on the resources of individuals and groups (Buchwald, 2003)..

 Figure 1.

According to COR theory, human beings' primary motivation is to build, protect,

and foster their resource pools in order to protect the self and the social bonds that

support the self. The theory provides a model for preventing resource loss, maintaining

existing resources, and gaining resources necessary for engaging in appropriate

behaviors. COR theory argues that resources are the key components to determining

individuals' appraisals of events as stressful and resources define how individuals are

able to cope with stressful situations.

Further, COR theory proposes that those already lacking in resources will be

more vulnerable to the experience of loss spirals and those with plenty of resources will

have more opportunity for resource gain. Loss spirals, as Hobfoll (1998) explains, occur

when resources are expended, and are therefore not available to cope with future-loss

threats, thus potentially leading to further loss. Initial loss leaves individuals, groups,

and communities more vulnerable to the negative impact of ongoing resource

challenges. Those endowed with greater resources will be more resilient, but ongoing

resource loss will challenge even richly resource-endowed individuals or groups. Thus,

loss spirals are a powerful force that is evident in individuals and communities already

lacking resources.

Another theory that is relevant to this research is the Energy Return of

Investment Theory. Energy return on investment (EROI) is a method of calculating the

energy returned to the economy and society compared to the energy required to obtain

that energy and, thus, to measure the net energy produced for society (Odum,

1973; Mulder and Hagens, 2008; Hall, 2011; Hall et al., 2014). The concept of net

energy was first proposed by Odum in 1973, and EROI has been the subject of

research for over 40 years (Hall et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2016). Input factors include direct

energy, non-energy resources (e.g., land, water, time, labor), and embodied energy

(e.g., energy consumed by infrastructure construction and material production), while

output factors include direct energy output, coproducts, and externalities (e.g., carbon

emissions, soil erosion, ground and water pollution, loss of habitat, job creation,

maintenance of rural communities). In most studies, the calculation is based on

standard EROI, which only includes direct and indirect energy and material inputs and

outputs. However, standard EROI is highly inaccurate for some energy sources, such as

shale gas, biomass energy, and solar energy (Chen et al., 2020). If the input and output

factors are not determined strictly, EROI will be one-sided and misleading. Research on

EROI calculation and input and output factors is important, otherwise EROI will not be

useful for policy.

 The researcher will use the CRO Theory as it focused more on the behavior and

perspective of people suffering from preventing resource loss, maintaining existing

resources, and gaining resources necessary for engaging in appropriate behaviors

which in this case is the electricity.

Conceptual Framework

The researcher will use Input-Output Model as a Conceptual Framework.

Input Process Output

Profile of the Identification of

respondents respondents
Implications of the
Causes of frequent Conduct of interview frequent power
power interruptions interruptions to the
Answer of the
Effects on the life of respondents lives of the people of
people due to Brgy. Poblacion
Analyze the response
frequent power
of the respondents
interruptions

Figure 2.

In Figure 2, there are Input, Process, and Output. In Input, profile of the

respondents, causes of frequent power interruptions and effects on the life of people

due to frequent power interruptions will be considered. As for the Process, the

researcher will identify the respondents, conduct an interview, the answer of the

respondents and the analyzing the response of the respondents. As for the output, the

researcher will now know what would be the implications of frequent power interruptions

to the lives of people of Barangay Poblacion.