Ilocos Sur, Abra to experience 8-hour blackout

MANILA, Philippines - There will be an eight-hour power interruption in Ilocos Sur and Abra tomorrow, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) announced yesterday.

In an advisory, the NGCP said the areas to be affected are San Esteban, Santiago, Candon, Banayoyo, Sta. Lucia, Galimuyod, Tagudin, Salcedo, Sta. Cruz, Suyo, Sigay, Quirino, San Emilio, Gregorio del Pilar, Alilem, Cervantes, Lidlidda and parts of Sugpon in Ilocos Sur.

The Narvacan substation and the franchise area of the Abra Electric Cooperative Inc. will also be affected.

The power interruption will allow the preventive maintenance and testing of the San Esteban 50 MVA transformer, simultaneous with the transmission line maintenance along the NGCP’s San Esteban-Candon 69kV line, the firm said.

“Normal operations will immediately resume after work completion. NGCP customers and the general public are advised to take the necessary preparations and precautions for this scheduled interruption,” it added.

The grid operator also said that specific areas that may be affected by the power interruption are determined by the affected distribution utility, which allocates the available power within its franchise area and implements the power interruption schedule.