NGCP steps up disaster preparedness

Manila Bulletin 
By Myrna M. Velasco 
Published: August 23, 2013 
Circumstances wherein wind gustiness had not downed transmission facilities and the grid was on full operation despite the torrential rains this week could have been upshots of ongoing improvements in the power system, but the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) indicated that it will further step up its efforts on disaster preparedness.
“The corporation is continuously taking necessary preparations and precautions to minimize the impact of succeeding tropical storms and other disasters on NGCP operations and facilities,” the system operator noted.
It similarly gave assurance to the public that it “is ready to conduct similar disaster management activities to ensure reliable power transmission services.”
In this week’s strike of floods and the heavy beating of tropical storm Maring in some areas, NGCP reported that the power grid “remained normal and fully functional.”
“The grid operator’s transmission lines and substations in North Luzon, South Luzon and NCR (National Capital Region) endured the heavy rains and flood brought about by the southwest monsoon which affected majority of Luzon,” NGCP stressed.
There have been circumstances in the past wherein failures in transmission operations were logged due to the strike of calamities, which in turn induced blackout incidents. In fact, NGCP’s ‘baptism of fire’ just a year after it took over the grid’s operations had been massive blackouts due to a super typhoon in 2010.
In the past four years though, the company has been continuously pursuing projects to improve and expand the country’s transmission facilities. Among the first facility enhancements it set had been the replacement of wooden poles with steel poles because the latter had been seen sturdier and could withstand ‘knock out blow’ of disasters, like typhoons.
NGCP similarly noted that it installed anti-flooding system, which “was able to control the entry of floodwater in its substations, particularly in Sucat and Binan.”
The company averred that its “overall disaster control activities effectively prevented damage to the substation equipment and ensured continuous power transmission service to Meralco (Manila Electric Company) and other distribution utilities.”   source