Stable power supply during elections assured

CEBU, Philippines - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and Cebu Energy Development Corporation, along with other major players in the power industry, assured that there will be a stable power supply during the May elections.

NGCP head engineer Roberto Uy said yesterday that once the CEDC power plant becomes completely operational by the last week of the month and the maintenance of other power plants in the Visayas gets completed, the supply will remain at a “normal break even level” that shall not threaten the elections.

Uy said CEDC is set to conduct its initial synchronization on February 14 during which it shall release 25 percent or 20 megawatts of its 82-megawatt capacity.

After 24 hours, the operation will be stopped to check if all systems are running smoothly. If no glitch would manifest, operation will resume by February 16 where they will supply 50 percent or around 40 megawatts of its capacity. Again, it will be shut down after 24 hours for assessment.

If everything would run smoothly, the load will be increased to 75 percent on February 18 and subsequently will be made completely operational by February 19.

CEDC vice president Ed Satina said operations were supposed to start by March yet, but the critical power situation in the Visayas prompted them to start operations earlier.

CEDC has built three plants with an 82-megawatt capacity each. The first plant will be operational this month, the second scheduled for synchronization starting May 20, while the third plant is targeted to be operational by September.

CEDC remain optimistic that the plants will be operational by the target dates and that any possible glitch can be fixed before the elections.

Uy also said the 200-megawatt loss in the Visayas grid is not as bad as it appears since Luzon is able to augment by sending power to the grid.

“Once CEDC operates, the reserve position of the grid will be in a better shape though not yet as ideal,” Uy said. He explained that the additional power supply will just help zero out the difference between the capacity and the demand but not necessarily provide the grid a reserve.

Uy added that a week before the elections and two weeks after the elections, they will not permit plants to undergo preventive maintenance to ensure a stable supply.

Meanwhile, the Visayan Electric Company also committed to manage distribution in such a way that interruptions are lessened.

Veco Corporate Communications Officer Ethel Natera said they are encouraging their major consumers to join the interruptible load program where consumers will voluntarily shed load. Natera said that the interruptible load program is able to give them around 20-30 megawatt share, which is already a big help.

Veco once again appealed to the public to start conserving energy especially during peak hours to help minimize power interruptions due to power shortage. – Jessica Ann R.Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)