Transco bares plan to restore electricity quickly in case of Holy Week blackouts

The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) has prepared a plan for immediate power restoration in the event of unforeseen power outages during the Holy Week.

Transco said it has directed its top officials, mostly vice presidents, to report as officers of the day during the holiday break and oversee the firm’s daily operations.

The firm’s technical personnel will also be reporting to ensure that power transmission in the major grids will be efficient.

Transco said its facilities nationwide are well maintained and that they will be able to deliver the needed peak demand on electricity this Holy Week estimated at 5,200 megawatts.

Transco is a spin off company from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) which will assume all the transmission assets and liabilities of the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

Napocor issued similar statement the other day, assuring the public that there will be no power outages during the coming long holidays.

Napocor Mindanao Generation Group said the province has enough power to supply even peak demand of almost 1,000 megawatts (MW).

"We have an available capacity of more than 1,100 MW. This is because aside from our hydro plants, we have other sources of fuel that we use to generate electricity," Mindanao group vice president Pasayud Macarambon said.

Macarambon said they expect the situation in Pulangi to improve by June this year, with the coming of the rainy season.

At present, Mindanao has a system peak of 900 to 1,000 MW. The 727.1 MW Agus Power Complex has enough capability to cover for whatever deficiency Pulangi 4 has, until its water level improves.

Aside from the Agus power plants, other power facilities that contribute to the supply of Mindanao are the various diesel plants strategically located within the region, with total capacity of 450 MW; and the geothermal power plants in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, with total capacity of more than 108 MW.

"We assure the public, under the normal operating conditions, there is enough power supply in Mindanao for us to enjoy the long weekend. We are also in close coordination with Transco, in relation to the current situation in our transmission facilities," he said.

At present, Transco is curtailing power in most parts of Mindanao, except the Lanao and Zamboanga provinces due to the non-restoration of the Agus 2-Kibawe Lines, which were sabotaged by lawless elements; and the limited capacity of the Abaga-Tagoloan lines.