Aboitiz Power Corp. subsidiary Davao Light and Power Company has upgraded a key element in its power distribution network to prevent cyber-attacks.
Davao Light said it continues to innovate and update its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system since its initial installation in 1996.
The SCADA system is a collection of both hardware and software elements that allows for a more seamless way of gathering, monitoring, and controlling real-time data and distant electrical devices installed in the power distribution network.
Without the SCADA system, fixing power outages would take several hours as the team would be required to go onsite for manual assessment.
With the upgrade, Davao Light will be able to improve the distrbution network’s efficiency, reliability, and quality of service for the 465,000 customers within its franchise area.
Currently, the team is able to restore 65 percent of unplanned interruptions in less than five minutes, resulting in a more efficient and reliable way of providing power to customers.
As the energy industry continues to shift with the digital age, Davao Light has also made strides to protect its assets against modern threats like cyber-attacks which can cause electrical blackouts, failure of equipment, and data breaches.
“In the near future, we will be implementing distribution automation, enhanced outage management system, and energy management system. This is to further improve our power system reliability that will be at par with world-class standards,” said Engr. Virmel Dabon, Davao Light System Operations Manager.
Davao Light’s ERA Substation Control Center has also been upgraded in 2020 to provide tighter security controls on its components like the SCADA server to ensure long-term dependability and protection as these facilities perform their critical functions.
Davao Light is the third-largest privately-owned electric distribution utility in the country in terms of customer size and annual kilowatt sales. Davao Light’s franchise area covers Davao City, areas of Panabo City, and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali, and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte.
