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COTABATO CITY – The Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) on Wednesday has issued an energy conservation advisory to its clients, as part of its education and information dissemination program on energy savings.
The power firm said several reasons hike power consumption in homes amid attempts to lower their monthly electric bills.
Arlene Hepiga, speaking for Cotabato Light, said a residential customer who has not added a new electric-powered appliance at home may be surprised if his or her power consumption reads higher than before, especially this summer season.
She said usually, higher energy consumption is traceable to other causes, which the customer is not aware of or has overlooked.
Hepiga explained that an increase in the number of users or frequency of use of some types of appliances, particularly electric irons, electric stoves or ovens, air conditioners, and refrigerators means an increase in power consumption.
“As the household gets bigger, hosts more guests, or celebrates more occasions, the use of these appliances tends to increase,” she said.
Hepiga said the habit of most consumers to leave electronic devices plugged also affect power consumption. Citing as an example, she said the on-standby power feature of appliances consumes 2-10 watts or 6-10 percent of usage.
“These devices, which emit red light, are considered “phantom load” and are still operating even when you think they are turned off. It is best to unplug appliances when not in use,” she said.
She added that during the summer season, consumers normally have prolonged or heavier use of air conditioning units, electric fans, dehumidifiers, and refrigerators resulting in an increase in power consumption.
Hepiga also cited “seasonal factors” that enable or induce more people to stay home and make heavier or extended use of electric appliances like electric fans and air conditioning units. These season factors include school breaks and vacations, the Christmas season, the fasting month of Ramadhan, holidays and other festivities, as well as other occasions such as family reunions.
Hepiga said a defective magnetic rubber gasket of refrigerators also spike power consumption.
“If the gasket is no longer airtight, it allows cold air to escape from the refrigerator, forcing the refrigerator’s motor to work harder to maintain the temperature at the desired setting,” she said.
In its 2018 company profile, Cotabato Light said it is serving an estimated 40,000 customers in Cotabato City and parts of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Sultan Kudarat towns in Maguindanao province. (PNA)
