IT TAKES ‘THREE TO TANGO’ IN PANAY’S POWER SECTOR
THERE ARE three key players in Panay Island’s power/electricity sector – the power grid operator, the power generators, and the power distributors. While each plays a unique and essential part, their roles are interconnected, with each playing a vital part in the energy value chain.
Power generators produce electricity. Their primary role is to generate electricity and make it available for transmission and distribution.
The power grid operator manages the transmission network, which is the high-voltage system used to transport electricity from power plants to distribution networks. Its responsibilities include ensuring that the transmission of electricity is safe, efficient, and reliable. This involves balancing supply and demand, maintaining grid stability, and preventing blackouts.
Power distributors deliver electricity from the high-voltage transmission network to consumers through low-voltage distribution networks.
The interdependence or seamless interplay among power generators, grid operator, and distributors is essential. For example, the grid operator – National Grid Corporation of the Philippines – must quickly respond to changes in demand or supply disruptions by coordinating with generators and distributors. Kun indi, blackout gid like what happened from Jan. 2 to 5 in Panay. Haslo!
On the other hand, power generators must make sure that their power plants are in tip-top shape all the time or these would bog down and cause unscheduled power interruption like what happened a week ago due to the sudden shutdown of the power plants of Panay Energy and Development Corp. Pirme guba-guba? Otro man!
Meanwhile, power distributors that own and manage the infrastructure needed to supply electricity to homes, businesses and industries, must make sure that their substations, posts, transformers, and distribution wires are also in excellent condition. Otherwise, gamay lang nga ulan, huyop sang hangin, ukon naghapon lang ang pispis ukon tuko, brownout dayon. Tarso!
Repeat: the efficient coordination among power generators, grid operator, and distributors is essential to ensure that the delivery of electricity is efficient and reliable.
Singling out just one key player for the recent spate blackouts in Panay without calling the attention of the other players’ shortcomings is hinaslo! Or is it a cover up?