THE Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve its emergency capital expenditure project worth P17.87 million for the installation of a new 5MVA substation in Silay City.
The project aims to improve the system capacity and power quality of the electric cooperative's Silay coverage area to avert overloading in the existing electric transformers, said Ceneco general manager Sulpicio Lagarde Jr.
Ceneco conducted a survey of its facilities and energy demands with regard the performance of its distribution system to ascertain capacity and reliability vis-a-vis the overloading of substations and increasing demand of its consumers.
Ceneco conducted a survey of its facilities and energy demands with regard the performance of its distribution system to ascertain capacity and reliability vis-a-vis the overloading of substations and increasing demand of its consumers.
"The result yielded an imminent recommendation for the implementation and construction of an additional 5MVA substation in Silay City to address the unreliable, inefficient and unstable electric power/critical loading situation in the city," Lagarde stressed.
He noted that the only substation currently supplying the electric needs of Silay is a 5MA substation in Hacienda Maquina, barangay Rizal. But for 2010, loading of the substation ranged from 100.37 percent to as high as 126.25 percent of its rated capacity, dangerously over and above the 70 percent benchmark set by the ERC.
He noted that the only substation currently supplying the electric needs of Silay is a 5MA substation in Hacienda Maquina, barangay Rizal. But for 2010, loading of the substation ranged from 100.37 percent to as high as 126.25 percent of its rated capacity, dangerously over and above the 70 percent benchmark set by the ERC.
"The establishment and operation of the Bacolod-Silay Airport, which in turn ushered the sprouting of new establishments and structures in surrounding and nearby areas thereby contributing to a rapid increase in demand growth, was neither helpful to the current loading situation in the city,” Lagarde said.
He disclosed that at present, the Bacolod-Silay Airport has to shut down its Ceneco power and switch to its generator every time an airplane takes off or lands since the power supplied by the coop cannot sufficiently provide for the airport's electric requirements for such activities.
"Such ultimately results to inconvenience, instability and disruptions in the continued operations of the airport as well as the welfare of the commuting public,” he added.
Ceneco decided to construct an additional substation, to be located in Hacienda Panaogao, rather than resort to manual load shedding, which it stressed is rather a short-term solution.
"Should the pressing issue at hand not be addressed promptly, it is the consumers who will be most prejudiced," Lagarde stressed, adding that Ceneco can no longer meet the rapidly increasing electricity demands in the area.
The proposed substation will also reduce system losses estimated at 1.17 percent, which is equivalent to P234,000 a month or P2.81 million per year.
"Additional benefits such as increased reliability and efficiency of power may be achieved by positioning and situating transformers nearer to the growing and increasing loads." (CGC)
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on May 25, 2011.
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