NGCP bans plant maintenance activities during peak months
THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday assured that it would not allow power plant maintenance activities during peak months to prevent power outage incidents.
“NGCP assures that for its future submissions, all maintenance plans which fall within the peak period will be rejected to prevent any issues on unscheduled power interruptions,” the grid operator said.
This was one of the issues discuss during a meeting with industry stakeholders.
NGCP met with representatives from Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Transco, and other agencies, to discuss the energy industry’s most pressing matters. NGCP welcomed the meeting as an opportunity to clear matters concerning power.
The issue on ancillary services (AS), which NGCP is addressing by reviewing the existing contracts and capacities needed, was also discussed.
The company said it awaits clarification on some matters regarding DOE guidelines, which were all expressed in a letter submitted to the agency last July 15. NGCP sees this as crucial to effectively and efficiently comply with the directive to convert from non-firm to firm contracts.
On the issue of delays in Grid Operations and Maintenance Program (GOMP) and Transmission Development Plan (TDP) submission, NGCP clarified that current delays experienced on the GOMP were borne out of clarifications sought from DOE as regards the company’s 2020 submission.
However, the company has exhibited compliance with its submission of the 2021-2023 GOMP to DOE for approval last June 2021, endorsing the same to Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) for concurrence.
NGCP also acknowledged its responsibility of consistently updating the TDP. The company’s technical group continues to work on its annual submission to DOE, and actively conducts consultations with all relevant stakeholders since its inception in 2009.
On the issue of NGCP’S audit, the company said the ERC’S Compliance and Performance Review is currently ongoing. This involves the audit of the company’s operations, programs, and processes.
Preparations for the said audit began in September 2020, with the requested compliance documents submitted to the ERC last March 8. “NGCP assures the public and its stakeholders that the company remains committed to cooperate with ERC and the auditors assigned to perform the review,” the company said.
NGCP also clarified the matter on delays in transmission line projects, which was raised during the Senate Committee on Energy hearings. The company regularly submits monthly Transmission Project Status Report (TPSR) to the DOE, as well as reports the status of permits/issuances and the status of expropriation cases filed by NGCP with concerned LGUS and agencies.
With all the issues raised, NGCP is calling on all energy players to work together and come up with a holistic approach to these problems.
“We have always complied and will continue to comply with our mandate and the directives of concerned stakeholders. NGCP is a private company, and while we appreciate the guidance and help of the power players, at the end of the day, the objective is not to focus on AS alone.
Let us work together to find a holistic solution to the problems we face. In our view, this requires a deeper analysis of the problem, and a broader strategy than just firm contracting,” the company said.
NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy Jr. and Co-vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto Jr.