Year-end power restoration in hard-hit areas a ‘challenge’
BY LENIE LECTURA – DECEMBER 22, 2021
from Business Mirror
POWER restoration in Bohol, Siargao, Dinagat, and Surigao del Norte could take a little longer for severely-affected areas hit by Typhoon Odette.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday it will be “challenging” task to restore power by New Year in these areas. Nonetheless, the agency said it is committed to restoring and stabilizing power and fuel supply as it fully implements the directives of President Duterte.
Officials from the DOE, National Electrification Administration (NEA) and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said they are all working to restore service in affected areas.
According to the NGCP, of the 2,200MW “normal” loading or consumption of the Visayas grid, only about 800MW or 36 percent is being monitored by NGCP’s Visayas System Operations. While aerial patrols are still ongoing, NGCP has found 12 of its transmission towers and more than 600 transmission poles damaged.
Of the 95 transmission facilities affected, NGCP has restored 76, leaving only 19 lines for restoration.
The remaining affected 138kV line in Leyte and two 138kV lines in Cebu are targeted to be restored by December 22. One 138kV line in Bohol is also targeted to be restored on December 31. Transmission services in areas serviced by VECO, MECO, and CEBECO II are already restored.
The Paranas-Borongan-Quinapondan and Sta. Rita-Quinapondan 69kV lines servicing the ESAMELCO franchise area were restored on 20 December, bringing back power transmission services in the province.
One 230kV Line and 15 138kV Lines are de-energized. These lines are ready for energization as soon as power generators are ready to transmit, and distribution utilities are ready to receive power.
NGCP has fully restored transmission services to the provinces of Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Biliran, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao Oriental, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur.
NGCP has augmented its work force—deploying a total of 92 line gangs, or 736 personnel, working 24/7 when weather and safety conditions permit to expedite post-Typhoon Odette restoration works.
Meanwhile, NEA said there are 74 electric cooperatives (ECs) that are currently undergoing recovery measures. Within the 11 affected regions, 46 ECs were able to continue normal operations.
“The strong winds running with a velocity of up to 220 km per hour, however, managed to interrupt power distribution among 20 ECs. As of December 21, the cost of [the damage] amounts to P299,998,289.78,” said NEA.
NEA Administrator Emmanuel Juaneza, who immediately flew to Tacloban to meet with the General Managers of Region 8, said the priority sites of inspection were Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO) and Leyte Electric Cooperatives (LEYECO I, II, III, IV).
The Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) department of NEA reported that out of the cities and municipalities powered by LEYECO V, five have been fully restored as of December 19. These include Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, Tabango, Palompon. The rest of the affected ECs have been working on restoration following safety measures.
In Iloilo, 100% restoration
In Iloilo City, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) reported that it was able to register a 100-percent restoration of its energy supply in this southern metropolis in less than 24 hours after Typhoon Odette’s rage which damaged a total of 123 poles, electricity lines and its laterals.
MORE Power, according to its President Roel Castro, declared operations as back to normal following the clearing and restoration of subtransmission, feeders, primary and majority of the secondary lines and laterals.
As of the weekend, the remaining works are mostly on the secondary lines connecting to the consumers’ residential lines. He emphasized that the speedy and successful restoration work was a product of preparations and contingency plans made by MORE Power even before Odette hit the city.
Castro said the prepositioning of logistics and materials needed in the recovery and restoration efforts also contributed to the smooth flow of their operations as well as the shifting of duties of its personnel for them to be given enough time to rest to improve work efficiency.
Meralco’s help
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), meanwhile, extended assistance to expedite restoration of electricity services in affected areas.
The company said it has coordinated with the DOE and the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and sent an advance party in Cebu on December 19 to help assess the extent of damage to power facilities.
Meralco will deploy a contingent of around 50 engineers and linemen, 25 of which arrived in Cebu on Tuesday (December 21), to immediately help in clearing operations and power restoration in the province.
The company is also coordinating with the Philippine Navy and PLDT, for the transportation of additional personnel, 15 vehicles, 11 generator sets, and heavy equipment to the work site.
More personnel and portable generator sets are currently on standby and ready to be deployed to other areas that would need assistance.
The Meralco Group, through One Meralco Foundation, is working closely with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, MVP Group, the government and private sector to provide immediate relief to those severely affected by the typhoon.
In addition, Meralco PowerGen Corporation and Global Business Power Corporation are providing 20,000 liters of diesel to help fuel the generator sets of PLDT and Smart, which are working to restore telecommunications services in the affected areas.
The DOE also reported only three oil depots are not yet operational. Hopefully, it added, these will be fully repaired by next week.
According to DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, the oil companies have given assurances of sufficient petroleum supply. “The challenge is to bring these to end-users. There is no reason to worry as far as availability of fuel is concerned. There is no need to hoard because that will only make it harder for the community.”
