Transco ordered to tighten watch on transmission lines

Energy Secretary Vincent S. Perez has ordered the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) to tighten measures in safeguarding the country’s transmission line network after a spate of massive power blackouts in various part of the world.

Perez said there is a need for Transco to intensify its campaign to secure the entire transmission system and prevent any major power outages from happening.

He noted that one of the main reasons blamed for the recent power blackout in Italy was faulty and damaged transmission lines.

In particular, Perez ordered Transco to strictly enforce security measures, to coordinate closely with regional security and field offices and to conduct security audit to determine the status of the facilities.

He also urged Transco to religiously conduct inspection of its transmission lines. Transco’s transmission lines span a total of 20, 729 circuit kilometers with 141 substations.

At the same time, Perez stressed the need to implement a clean-up drive in areas near transmission facilities to avert power outages stemming from fallen trees or branches.

A report compiled by the AFP wire services showed widespread power outages have hit countries worldwide since 1999, affecting millions of people even causing deaths.

In the US, the Jan. 18, 2001 power blackout in San Francisco affected one million people and the recent Aug. 14, 2003 power blackout in the Northeastern part as well as in Canada left 50 million in darkness.

The report showed that in South America, severe power outages occurred in Colombia in March 16, 2002 and in Argentina last Nov. 24, 2002.

In Europe, a Dec. 26, 1999 blackout in France cut supply of electricity to more than 3.6 millions of homes while the Sept. 23, 2003 power outage in Sweden-Denmark crippled industries, airports, transport system and households. Over the weekend, another major power blackout struck, affecting mostly Italy and Switzerland.

In Africa, a massive outage in Algeria left the whole country in total darkness in Feb. 3, 2003. In Nigeria, a power blackout in June 2001 paralyzed activities and operations of more than 50 million people and industries.

In Asia, seven provinces in India were hit by a 13-hour power blackout, affecting 200 million people in Jan. 2, 2001.