NGCP completes rehab of Luzon transmission lines hit by TD Josie

By Lenie Lectura – August 5, 2018
from Business Mirror

THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has completed the restoration of transmission lines in Luzon affected by both Tropical Depression Josie and the southwest monsoon.

The grid operator said last week that power-transmission operations in Luzon are back to normal after the NGCP’s Olongapo Substation was fully energized last July 24.

Flood waters entered the facility last July 22 when a portion of the substation wall broke down due to strong winds and flood water. This prompted the NGCP to temporarily shut down the substation to prevent any damage to the system, which may cause partial or total blackout in the area.

As soon as flooding subsided, the NGCP’s engineers and substation personnel began the comprehensive inspection and testing of all critical substation equipment and systems, energizing the substation last July 23. Due to prevailing strong rains in the area, the substation once again went on emergency shutdown last July 24.

The NGCP said it mobilized line crews from all over North Luzon to expedite the assessment of the damage done to the substation, and to run countermeasures to mitigate any subsequent flooding inside the facility, such as sandbagging the perimeter of the destroyed wall.

Following its Integrated Disaster Action Plan, NGCP was able to prevent any major system disturbance to the Luzon grid, and subsequently restored all transmission facilities affected by the torrential rainfall brought by the weather disturbances.