The Department of Energy (DOE) came under fire anew in the Senate Tuesday over the failure of Secretary Alfonso Cusi to categorically assure the DOE can avert brownouts during next year’s vote count of the results of the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.
Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Energy, deplored “the DOE officials’ apparent indifference” in arresting any possibility of rotational brownouts during the counting of votes cast in election period next year.
The senator reminded that an estimated 60 million voters will troop to the polling precincts to “exercise their right to choose their leaders in the national and local levels.”
“This is unacceptable,” Gatchalian griped, reminding that “this is the reason there is a Department of Energy to make sure we have electric supply all the time.”
He added: “The DOE’s only task is to ensure that we have a steady supply of electricity. So, it is unacceptable they will allow it to happen that even an iota or possibility of brownouts will occur during the election period.”
In a news statement issued on Tuesday, the senator stressed “it is the DOE’s job to address that situation.”
The lawmaker lamented the “lack of any categorical statement” from Cusi “ensuring sufficient power supply when this early, energy officials already forecasted the thinning of power supply on election day and thereafter.”
Gatchalian reminded that “as early as now, the DOE should identify solutions and undertake steps to ensure there will be no brownouts during the 2022 elections.”