NGCP readies contingency measures for election power supply

By Myrna M. Velasco – April 8, 2022, 2:17 PM
from Manila Bulletin

With the country’s frail power supply situation, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is hammering out contingency measures to avoid electricity service disruptions on this year’s May 9 elections.

The transmission firm said it will be activating round-the-clock overall command center from May 8 to 10, as part of preparations to secure power transmission operations and facilities during the polling period.

While the actual voting will happen on May 9, logistics deployments are usually done a day before and then the counting of election results could stretch up to the next day.

The election contingency toolbox of NGCP includes suspension of maintenance works and construction activities inside substations and within 300 meters of energized power lines from May 2 to 16. Activities that could be postponed will have to be temporarily shelved from April 24 to May 8, except for emergency cases.

“Corrective works which may cause major grid disturbance, line inspection, and/or clearing are also targeted to be completed before April 30,” the company added.

NGCP similarly assured that it will be issuing advisories on the power situation every four hours “depending on the situation on the ground.”

It specified that while the May 9 elections is a special non-working day, the transmission firm’s critical units will remain to be fully staffed and operational.

“Line crews, engineers, pilots, maintenance and testing, and other technical personnel are strategically positioned in substations to respond to line trippings, if any,” the company said, adding that even its administrative and other support teams will remain on duty.

According to NGCP, it already formed a special team since February this year for the election preparatory activities toward ensuring “the security and reliability of the transmission network across the country.”

The transmission company noted it already made warranted coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and all other concerned government agencies on directives for the activation of its command center.

“NGCP’s own contingency plans are in place to monitor and immediately address any grid disturbance,” the company stressed.

To date, NGCP emphasized that it already broadened its “collaborative preparations” with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in “conducting clearing operations on overgrown vegetation along critical transmission lines across the country.”

The transmission firm expounded that it needed to seek the assistance of the two law enforcement agencies, so it can gain better access at “hard to reach areas and areas with security concerns.”