Rotational brownouts in metro to last longer

The Visayan Electric Company (Veco) has increased the duration of its rotational brownouts from one hour to 1.5 hours starting at 4:30 p.m. last Wednesday because of high deficiency in power supply.

Veco Reputation and Enhancement Manager Quennie Bronce said they implemented yesterday the rotational brownouts for the morning peak from 9 a.m. to noon in the Cities of Cebu, Talisay and Mandaue.

Veco also implemented rotational brownouts in the Cities of Naga, Talisay, Cebu and Mandaue and the Municipality of Minglanilla from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Bronce said the implementation of power outages depended on the directions of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and power supply availability.

The major facilities of NGCP were damaged by the strong earthquake that hit Kananga town in Leyte and Ormoc City last July 6.

The power from Leyte mostly comes from the Tongonan Geothermal Energy, which was built during the time of Presi-

We have alternative options such as generator sets. Long-term solutions including mobile transformers are also being carefully studied, MA. ROSETTE MARTINEZ NGCP Communications Center

dent Ferdinand Marcos and is considered the cheapest power supply in the country.

In a Visayas Power Restoration Advisory, Ma. Rosette Martinez of the NGCP Communication Center said they are working 24 hours a day to restore all transmission line facilities.

Martinez said NGCP is employing a parallel, simultaneous strategy of repair, replacement and configuration for its affected transmission equipment.

For repairs, affected transformers will be retested and corrected for any damage. For replacements, transformers from Cebu are being transported to Ormoc City to replace unserviceable equipment.

For reconfiguration, the 230KV lines from Compostela, Cebu will be reconfigured and stepped down to 138KV lines so power can reach Ormoc City and be received by Distribution Utilities.

Martinez added that NGCP is also coordinating with concerned agencies on the deployment of power barges to supply the power requirements of Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Biliran.

“We have alternative options such as generator sets. Long-term solutions including mobile transformers are also being carefully studied,” Martinez said.