DOE launches two websites for monitoring of energy consumptionJul 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Kristyn Nika M. Lazo The Manila Times, PhilippinesThe Department of Energy launched on Tuesday two useful websites where electricity consumers' questions will be answered as to why their monthly electric bills are high, and keeps getting higher for the following months. Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla demonstrated how the two websites can help consumers, mostly in households, in monitoring their electric costs. "We always never take into account how much we consume... We have to arm consumers on information. We intend to put more [projects], something consumeroriented," Petilla said. He said that the websites would educate consumers on "what products [or appliances] are the most cost efficient" and how do their electricity rates go up in a monthly basis. The first website, called Kuryente, is where people can browse through different power plants, electric companies and cooperatives in different parts of the country as well as their varied cost per area. There is also an option "Kuryente 101" which indicates the basics and the names of each charge on their monthly electric bill. Consumers can also look into the website to see different electric rates for different areas nationwide. The second website, Watt Matters, can give the consumers information on how much electricity in watts and cost in peso do they spend for a particular appliance in a monthly basis. Watt Matters also provides lists of efficient and inefficient appliances and brands to serve as a reference for consumers, and so that they would know if their appliances are energy costly or efficient. Secretary Petilla said that these website will help educate the people in their energy concerns so that they are also aware that their bills are increasing, at the same time reduce their consumption. "We discourage the people [to buy inefficient appliances] by informing them. We want to tell the people through the website: 'what is energy efficient'...If the people are aware, bababa din ang konsumo natin [our electricity consumption will go down] without sacrificing anything," Petilla said. "For the bigger ones like LGUs and companies, I think that would be our focus," he added. Websites can be accessed at www.kuryente.org.ph and www.wattmatters.org.ph. "The reason it is .org [not the usual .gov] is because we want people to own it, and we want transparency. That is, to put the numbers into the website," Petilla said. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=29236385 |