Luzon grid on alert as power plants trip

The Luzon grid was placed on yellow alert yesterday after several power plants tripped.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said high demand, particularly at peak hours, and maintenance work in some power plants were also considered in placing the grid on yellow alert.

A yellow alert means reserves are below the minimum level set by the regulator.

Affected were the 300-megawatt Calaca Unit 2, which suffered from turbine problem; 11-MW Therma Mobile Inc.’s Units 5 and 6, where maintenance work was extended; 382-MW Pagbilao Unit 1, 190-MW Magat hydropower plant, 145-MW San Roque Unit 3, Angat hydroelectric power plant, Makban Geothermal power plant, Tiwi geothermal power plant and the Limay coalfired power plant.

The 647-MW Sual coalfired power plant and 61-MW Unit 3 of Therma Mobile also tripped, Larry Fernandez, Manila Electric Co. senior vice president and head of utility economics, said in a text message.

Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said the tripping of the plants caused automatic load dropping or instances of power outages in some areas in their franchise area.

Monsada said the 600-MW Malaya thermal power plant in Rizal could be tapped as a contingency plant if supply in the Luzon grid falls short.

She said the Department of Energy (DOE) has coordinated with participants of the Interruptible Load Program for provisional power supply of about 826 MW.

Power supply in the Luzon grid is expected to normalize by the end of the month.

Monsada said several forced power outages were also experienced in the Visayas grid after several plants went offline.

Meanwhile, the DOE said the Mindanao grid remains on red alert because the 150-MW Therma South Inc. coal-fired power plant and the 35-MW Pulangi Unit 4 are still offline.

A red alert means there is “severe” power deficiency.