Lightning strikes TRANSCO line

Lightning struck a transmission line of the National Transmission Corporation during heavy rains last Thursday, causing power outages in several parts of the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid.

TRANSCO yesterday clarified earlier reports that the power shortage in the CNP grid was due to the testing of the new submarine cables between Leyte and Cebu.

Benjamin Ypil, TRANSCO's information officer said that the real cause of the problem was that lightning hit a 230-kilovolt overhead cable in Talisay, Daanbantayan. This connects to the Compostela substation that supplies power to Metro Cebu and the Negros and Panay grid.

The incident happened at 12:44 p.m. last Thursday.

Ypil said the 300 megawatts power supply that was isolated at the CNP grid was accidentally cut off.

Because of this, power supplied to substations in Consolacion, Paknaan and Cabancalan in Mandaue City, Naga and Mabolo in Cebu City was stopped. Power supply of the Visayas Electric Company, Cebu Electric Cooperative I & II, Mactan Electric Cooperative, among others was also affected.

Ypil said the problem was quickly solved and power was restored at 2:30 p.m. - Wenna A. Berondo