No brownouts in first quarter

Manila Standard Today
By Butch Gunio | Oct. 09, 2014 at 12:01am

TABUK CITY, Kalinga—The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) expects no major blackouts for Luzon until the first quarter of 2015 except for outages due to preventive maintenance and extreme weather disturbances.

Lawyer Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP spokeswoman gave a situationer even as the distribution system is being improved to meet the demands of a growing economy.

“NGCP’s September 26 to October 2 weekly power outlook shows a 1,437megawatts gross reserve on October 1 which is high against a possible occurrence of a power crisis from projection of 600 megawatts shortage in Luzon in 2015,” she said in a statement.

“What also changes decision particularly on the part of government is the condition of power generation plants like if one or two plants collapse or are undergoing repair.”

In Bataan, power supply will be interrupted tomorrow in the province from 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Ernest Vidal, NGCP regional corporate communication officer, said Friday’s outage is scheduled in areas serviced by the Peninsula Electric Cooperative following its request to replace rotten poles along Hermosa-Balanga 69kV line.

Meanwhile, Redi Allan Remoroza, transmission planning department head, said towers and transmission lines are being placed on the 118-kilometer 230KV Santiago-Tuguegarao Line 2 for completion in 2015 to stabilize supply for the millions of consumers in the Cagayan Valley and Cordillera region ahead of the reportage power shortfall around summer next year.

He cited the 64-kilometer Tuguegarao-Magapit 230 KV Line Project for delivery in 2017.

“The 230KV power line serves as a buffer in the event that 69kV lines collapse as a result of calamity damages that are expected to occur considering that weather specialists have predicted the occurrence of stronger typhoons by the end of this year,” Remoroza said.

He said a 100 MVA transformer will be fully installed this December in Tuguegarao City with a view to establish the North Luzon 230kV Loop.

According to Remoroza, rotten poles are being replaced along the 69kV line between Solana, Cagayan and Tabuk.

Alexander Alvarez, operations and maintenance head of Cagayan Valley including Kalinga and Apayao, said 20 percent of wooden posts have been replaced with steel in wind-battered places along the typhoon path.

“This is a continuing project and we assure our consumers that reliability of power is our utmost goal along this plan,” he said. With Dexter A. See source