THE NATIONAL Grid Power Corporation (NGPC), new owners of what was previously the Transmission Corporation (TransCo), has issued an advisory that it would be “rationing” power to distributors because of a shortfall due to the maintenance work being done on three plants.
This is their answer to complaints of consumers all over the Visayas who’ve been experiencing brownouts. Already, people have begun to allude that the brownouts were a “prelude” to the major blackout “feared” by national energy officials to occur on election day on May 10, 2010.
An observer who requested not to be named said, “Maybe they are conditioning us this early”.
A texter also observed, “Nice question for Leyeco. Few months ago, there was no power shortages here. Why suddenly now we have, and we are rationing power. Are they getting ready for the election?”
Meanwhile, it was learned that the brownouts have been occurring in “rotation” in various areas of the Visayas, including a 6-hour one in Cebu on Wednesday.
Here in Ormoc and the 11 towns within the territorial jurisdiction of the distributor Leyeco V, the brownouts span from one hour to three hours.
Max Torcinde, information manager of Leyeco V, tried to placate Ormocanons while on air, saying that city residents could consider themselves lucky as they get preferential treatment considering that Ormoc remits the biggest revenue to the “cooperative”.
He also reiterated that the situation is beyond their control, adding that this was imposed on them by NGPC.
In a “power situation update” as of February 1, 2010 sent to various media outlets and concerned distribution, the NGPC said that the “Visayas Grid will be experiencing a shortfall during peak hours due to zero contingency reserve and generation deficiency”.
The statement was released by Edna Legaspina, corporate communications officer of the local NGCP here in Brgy. Milagro and comes from Belinda Sales Canlas, corporate communications officer-Visayas.
“As the System Operator, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued the grid operation notice to inform grid users of the existing system condition. A “Red Alert” will be issued when the contingency reserve is zero or a generation deficiency exists or if there is critical loading or imminent overloading of transmission lines or equipment.”
The advisory adds, “The grid will experience a deficit of up to 220 megawatts (MW) during weekday peak hours with the shutdown of the 50-MW Cebu Thermal 1 Plant, the 120-MW Mahanagdong geothermal power plant in Leyte, and the 50-MW gas turbines of Salcon Power.
The first two plants are under preventive maintenance shutdown to make way for maintenance works or repairs, which will improve power facilities and services.
Unit 2 of Mahanagdong is expected to be back online on February 8 (Monday). Unit 1 will be back to the grid on February 16. Cebu Thermal, on the other hand, will be available starting February 23.”
NGCP also stressed that it does not own the three plants, but merely transmits power generated by the plants. The plants in Leyte are owned and operated by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
“It is to be noted that NGCP does not own nor operate and maintain these power generation and the distribution facilities. As the System Operator, NGCP’s main responsibilities are to transmit power and operate the power system in accordance with the Philippine Grid Code.”, the NGCP statement further reads.
“To reduce the impact of would-be power interruptions among customers, the Luzon grid started augmenting 70 to 100 MW of power this morning (Feb. 2) to the Visayas grid and a total of 150 MW as of 2PM today. As of this writing, there were no brownouts experienced in the major cities in Cebu, Negros, and Panay islands yet.”
That was on February 2, Tuesday. Since then, the several areas have been reported with regular blackouts.
Leyeco V’s Torcinde, on the other hand, announced that they had to practice load shedding or rotate brownouts, as advised. Since the load shedding is not regular, they cannot also issue an advisory on which areas should expect the brownouts, as requested by consumers. In the meantime, he advised power users to be always ready until the power situation normalizes. By Lalaine M. Jimenea
Power rationing results to brownouts in Visayas
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