NGCP restores power in Negros

posted March 22, 2016 at 11:20 pm by Alena Mae S. Flores

http://thestandard.com.ph/business/202310/ngcp-restores-power-in-negros.html

Transmission operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has energized the Amlan-Siaton 69kV line after suffering an interruption over the weekend due to overgrown vegetation and the refusal of landowners to grant access to the affected facility.

National Grid said in a statement a local court issued a writ-of-possession, giving the company possession of the property and allowing linemen to conduct maintenance activities in the affected areas in Barangay Bagacay, Dumaguete City, and energize the line.

NGCP energized the line at 11 a.m. Monday, almost 26 hours after it first tripped.

“NGCP is pleased to report that with the expedient response of the local court in issuing the writ of possession, the assistance of the local government, and support from PNP and AFP, delivery of power through NGCP’s Amlan-Siaton line has been restored to the residents of Dumaguete City, Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita and Siaton,” it said.

The company  appealed to the public and local governments across the country to facilitate access to all transmission facilities to prevent extended power interruptions.

Portions of Southern Negros Oriental within the franchise area of Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II, including a large part of Dumaguete City, were affected by a power interruption which began at 9:38 a.m. Sunday.

The cause of the power interruption was determined to be overgrown vegetation underneath National Grid’s Amlan-Siaton 69kv line.

Immediate restoration of the line was hampered after Jaime and Violeta Ramos, owners of the property where the vegetation is located, refused access to their property.

The property of the Ramoses is the subject of a dispute with National Transmission Corp.

“It is extremely disheartening to hear that there are landowners who put personal interests above the interests of the community,” it said.

“Any legitimate issue that these landowners may have can certainly be settled with Transco through the proper legal processes, without having to hold hostage the transmission services that enable power to be delivered to thousands of people,” National Grid said.

National Grid said it was invoking Comelec Resolution 10067, which authorizes the company, with the help of other government agencies, to clear its transmission lines.

“The resolution authorizes NGCP to conduct ROW clearing in time for the May elections. We will implement the resolution if the landowner will continue to bar us from maintaining the line,” said the grid operator.