Low water level of Lake Lanao decreases power production

DAVAO CITY – The continuing drop of the water levels of Lake Lanao and Agus and Pulangi dams have already reached critical points as of July 21, a statement from the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) said.

“The water level of Lake Lanao is at 699.24 meters above sea level (MASL) as compared to the previous 699.26 on July 17. The normal high water level for the lake is at 701.10 MASL, while the minimum operating levels is at 699.15 MASL.”

“As of 1 p.m. of July 22, the National Grid Power Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) noted that Mindanao has a power deficiency of -248 MW. This prompted Distribution Utilities and Electric Cooperatives to undertake measures as necessary such as voluntary load curtailment, activation of the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) and tapping of embedded modular generator sets.”

The committee added that the water level of Agus 4 stands at 358.31 MASL, which is nearing its minimum operating level of 357 MASL, and is lower as compared to 358.88 MASL a couple of days ago. The dam has a normal high water level of 359 MASL.

“Further, Pulangi 4’s water level is at 280.40 MASL as compared to the previous 281.02 MASL. The dam, which is located in Maramag, Bukidnon, has a normal high water level of 285 MASL and minimum operating level of 282 MASL. It is currently churning out just 20 MW out of 250 MW capacity, largely on account of siltation.”

Around half of the power supplies in Mindanao are provided by those dams hence the continued drop of water levels in said facilities has brought down the capacity of the hydropower plants of Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complexes, the committee pointed out.

MPMC also attributed the low power supply being experienced in Mindanao nowadays to the preventive maintenance shutdown of the 105 MW Unit 2 of the 210 MW STEAG coal fired power plant of State Power Inc. (SPI) in Misamis Oriental.Unit 2 has been on PMS since July 18 and is expected to get back online on August 16, MPMC said.

Rotational brownouts The committee added that rotational brownouts for each Distribution Utilities and Electric Cooperatives in Mindanao are averaging at one to four hours per feeder.

Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (ZAMCELCO) is implementing one of the longest rotational brownouts at a maximum of nine hours per feeder, an average of seven hours, and a minimum of five hours.

Other electric cooperatives implementing longer hours of power interruptions include the Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO) 2 with a five-hour brownout per substation and the Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO) with a five-hour brownout per feeder.

"The Surigao del Norte (SURNECO) is also implementing a 4.5 hour brownout per feeder in their franchise area,” the committee added.

MPMC also noted that electric cooperatives that secured modular generation sets are not implementing rotational brownouts in their distributions areas. Among the electric cooperatives cited by MPMC are the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO) 2 and the Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (DASURECO).