Electricity back in 16 provinces
POWER supply is back to normal in 16 provinces as of Sunday afternoon, a day after the onslaught of Typhoon “Ompong,” the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said in an advisory.
Electricity was restored in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province, the NGCP reported.
Power supply in Isabela Province was substantially restored while there was ongoing supply restoration in the provinces of Cagayan, Kalinga and Apayao.
The 69- kilovolt ( kV) San EstebanBangued Transmission Line, the 69-kV Bacnotan-Bulala Line and the 69-kV San Esteban-Narvacan Line have been repaired.
However, the following transmission lines remained unavailable as of Sunday afternoon: the 69-kV La Trinidad-Mankayan-Sagada Line, the 23-kV Itogon-Ampucao Line, the 69-kV Magapit-Sta. Ana Line, the 69-kV Tuguegarao-Cabagan Line, the 69-kV Tuguegarao-Magapit Line and the 69-kV Tuguegarao-Tabuk Line.
“NGCP has mobilized its line crews and is conducting aerial and ground patrols to inspect and assess the impact of the typhoon to its operations and facilities,” NGCP said.
Damage assessment
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency-led Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) was assessing damage as well as responding to the energy needs of the
hit by Typhoon Ompong.
Earlier, the energy chief announced that immediate power restoration efforts were aimed at government institutions, particularly those involved in emergency response such as village halls and city centers, hospitals, evacuation centers, and other important buildings in the affected areas.
The National Power Corp.Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) reported that the diesel power plant (DPP) in Sabtang Island in Batanes incurred no damage and was restored at 8:39 a.m. on Sunday after line clearing of the Batanes Electric Cooperative.
SPUG also reported that there were no operations in the following DPPs due to assessment, clearing and restoration activities: Cagayan and Apayao area (Calayan, Minabel and Balatubat and Kabugao); Isabela and Aurora area (Palanan, Maconacon and Casiguran).
Water spilling operations were ongoing at the Ambuklao Dam with water level at 751.25 meters above sea level ( masl) against normal high water level (NHWL) of 752masl, the Binga Dam with 574.83 masl v. NHWL of 575masl, the Magat Dam with 186.5 masl vs NHWL of 193masl, the Maris Dam with 103.22 masl vs NHWL of 107.75 masl, and the San Roque Dam with 287.15 masl vs NHWL of 280 masl. The Angat water reservoir did not open its spill gates.