Published
By Myrna M. Velasco
The Department of
Energy (DOE) is undertaking a performance audit and assessment of the Zamboanga
City Electric Cooperative Inc. (ZAMCELCO) by the end of this month, with the
agency noting that while supply is not the main problem, there are technical
facets of power network operations that have been triggering the 1-3 hours of
brownout duration in the area.
“So far, there are brownouts, so we intend to
conduct performance audit and assessment towards the end of the month in order
to determine and have in-depth evaluation of its (ZAMCELCO’s) operations and
facilities,” noted Mario Marasigan, director of the DOE’s Electric Power
Industry Management Bureau.
The energy official
explained that there’s “technical aspect” that have been hobbling seamless
electricity distribution in the Zamboanga peninsula – and that shall be the
main target of the DOE audit.
“Apparently, supply is
not an issue even with the unsettled payments with Alsons,” Marasigan stressed,
referring to the P500 million arrears that the Alcantara-owned Western Mindanao
Power Corporation (WMPC) has been demanding from the joint venture of Crown
Investments Holdings Inc. and Desco Inc., the new owner of the Zamboanga power
utility.
Marasigan emphasized
though that the WMPC plant is needed by ZAMCELCO for one critical purpose – for
its need of ancillary services for frequency regulation or that plant that it
can call on immediately for dispatch when there is frequency excursion in the
system that could then cause damage and compromise the reliability of
operations of power facilities.
WMPC’s power plant
provides the necessary ancillary for voltage and frequency regulation – no need
for megawatts but MVAR (megavolt amps reactive)or what is known as “reactive
power” in the industry so reliability of electricity system operations can be
sustained.
Marasigan added that
for such particular use of the WMPC plant in the network of ZAMCELCO, it is
crucial that the parties could agree on near-term settlement, so the brownouts
in the area would eventually be eased. But he said Crown Investments and Desco
have been contesting the billings.
Absent that move, the
DOE official indicated that the option is for the Energy Regulatory Commission
(ERC) to approve the ASPA (ancillary services procurement agreement) of NGCP
(National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) and WMPC which will serve the
entire Zamboanga peninsula.
Marasigan stressed, “We
have informed and requested the ERC to act immediately, which we believe will
be done very soon.”
DOE Assistant Secretary
Redentor Delola further noted that “with the location of Zamboanga which is at
the farthest end of the peninsula and the radial configuration of the line,
power quality suffers when no local generation is available.”
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