DOE Warns Public Vs Use Of Energy Saving Devices

The Department of Energy (DOE) is cautioning the public against the use of products claiming to help lower their electricity bills.

The agency issued an advisory to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 20, concerning the rampant sale and promotion of energy-saving devices, or ESDs, to reduce electric bills.

“We would like to inform everyone that these activities tend to deceive our energy consumers and promote their personal interests,” the DOE said.

To verify their claim for efficiency, consumers should ask from these sellers a test result coming from the DOE regarding their ESD products.

The DOE emphasized that at present, it has yet to find an energy-saving device that can satisfy its claim for efficiency. 

“We advise consumers to be cautious and report these unscrupulous practices through our consumer welfare and promotions office,” it said.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said one of the key priorities of the DOE at present is to implement energy efficiency and conservation measures, noting that the efficient use of energy is one of the main cornerstones of its energy transition strategy.

“We recognize it as one of the most cost-effective approaches to lower our overall energy demand and, as a result, the emissions that come with it,” Lotilla said.

To further push the energy efficiency and conservation agenda into the mainstream, Lotilla said the DOE will scale up the rollout of concrete plans and programs, such as demand side management, Philippine energy labeling program, adoption of energy efficiency and conservation in the local government units, as well as performance audits in public buildings and facilities.

Aside from these, he said the DOE will expand the recognition of third-party institutions for certified energy managers/certified energy auditors, minimum energy performance for sectors, minimum energy performance for products and promotion of the energy service companies program.

The DOE is celebrating this month its 50th year in public service, which also coincides with the observance of the National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM).

Presidential Proclamation No. 1427 was issued in 2007 declaring December of every year as NECM, to coincide with the DOE’s anniversary.

The NECM provides a venue to create public awareness through information campaigns that bring the people toward judicious conservation and efficient utilization of energy.

The NECM’s annual observance calls for a sustainable energy future aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 which targets universal access to energy, increasing renewable energy’s share in the energy mix and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement.