December 27, 2018 | 9:57 pm
PRIVATELY-OWNED
National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has renewed its call for
legislators to hasten the passage of the anti-power disturbance bill as it
cited a number of recent right-of-way breaches that hampered power
transmission.
In a statement on
Thursday, the power system operator expressed concern about the recent space of
violations, recorded mostly in November.
“We have been very
serious in the conduct of our information and safety campaigns in the
communities near our transmission facilities. But our efforts are often ignored
because there is no legal consequence to breaching safety clearances,” the
company said.
“These breaches in
right-of-way not only threaten the reliability of the transmission system,
causing unnecessary inconvenience to power customers, but also risks the lives
of anyone involved or living near the area,” it added.
NGCP said on Nov. 13,
the Nabunturan-Monkayo 69-kilovolt (kV) line tripped, resulting in an hour-long
power interruption to customers of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative.
“It was discovered that
a land owner harvested his falcata trees using a chainsaw, causing the falling
tree to swing and hit the power cables of Towers 11 and 12 of the said line in
Poblacion, Monte Vista, Compostela Valley. Power was eventually restored later
after NGCP line crews remedied the situation,” it said.
On Nov. 15, the Sta.
Barbara-San Jose 138-kV line in Iloilo went on emergency shutdown when an
unidentified man was seen climbing one of the towers along the line, it said.
NGCP said several other
69-kV power lines in the area were also put on emergency shutdown to ensure the
security of the transmission system and the safety of the person involved and
the responders in the area.
“This resulted in power
interruptions lasting a few hours affecting various parts of Iloilo and
Antique. Power was restored when the area was cleared and declared safe for
re-energization,” it said.
On Nov. 18, it recorded
another incident when the Maco-Banaybanay 69-kV line in Compostela Valley
tripped because of kaingin — the practice of clearing fields by burning
— between Towers 259 and 260.
“Upon investigation, a
witness claimed that it seemed like the fire was intentionally started to make
way for planting of new crops,” it said.
NGCP said a tripping
incident was recorded last month along the Mexico-Calumpit 69-kV line when a
construction worker building a structure along McArthur Road, in San Simon,
Pampanga accidentally swung a 18-foot steel bar reinforcement. The bar hit the
line’s conductor, it said, adding that the victim suffered slight electric
shock and caused a power interruption.
On Dec. 10, a similar
incident also occurred in Batangas City when a construction worker was
electrocuted when tubular metal scaffolding he was using to plaster a wall made
contact with the Bolbok-Ma. Parang-Concepcion 13.8-kV line.
“He fell to the ground
and was rushed to the hospital for treatment,” NGCP said.
Sponsored by Senator
Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Senate Bill No. 2098 or the Anti-Obstruction of Power
Lines Act of 2018 seeks to prevent obstructions and penalize the introduction
of high-growing vegetation or hazardous improvements along power line
corridors.
Representative Carlos
R. Uybarreta, vice-chair of the House energy committee, sponsored the House
version of the bill, which was passed on Sept. 25, 2017. — Victor V. Saulon
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