TAGUIG CITY  – The Department of Energy (DOE) led Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) reported that electricity has been restored in 99.88% of the households affected by Typhoon Usman. 

“Through the unified efforts of the entire energy family, particularly Task Force Kapatid, we are very close to fully restoring power in Usman-hit areas. The round-the-clock hardwork of our dedicated men and women are highly appreciated not only by the DOE, but most especially our kababayans who experienced Usman's wrath over the holidays, " DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi today  stated.

According to the latest data from the National Electrification Administration (NEA), 1,012,978 of 1,013,978 households have been energized, while 1,181 households in Camarines Sur and Albay that are still undergoing restoration.

On generation, the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG) reported normal operations of its diesel power plants (DPP) on Monday (7 January). 

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), on the other hand, reported that all affected transmission assets have been normalized and restored on 3 January 2019. 

The energy chief also emphasized that the “price freeze” still applies to household LPG and kerosene in areas placed under the State of Calamity (SOC). No price increases will be applied on said products for 15 days upon the declaration of a SOC. Four provinces (Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte) in Bicol Region were declared under a SOC on 30 December 2018 and eight towns in Oriental Mindoro (Baco, Bongabong, Bansud, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Pola and Calapan City) were placed under a SOC on 31 December 2018 due to the heavy rains caused by Usman.

"Recent events prove that the spirit of bayanihan runs strong in all of us.  We will not rest until power is brought back to each and every home,” Cusi asserted. 

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