TransCo ready for Typhoon ‘Mina’

State-owned National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) said it is ready to implement a number of contingency measures in preparation for the onslaught of Typhoon Mina.

TransCo president and CEO Arthur N. Aguilar said all their transmission line crew and power restoration equipment have been pre-positioned in strategic areas in Eastern Luzon.

Aguilar said officials and personnel in substations, telecommunications facilities, and area control centers as well as security and aviation crew are on high alert.

“We will be able to immediately conduct necessary power restoration activities,” the TransCo chief said.

According to Aguilar, they are in close coordination with electric cooperatives to hasten electricity restoration works.

In cases of extensive damages, he said transmission line crew from Visayas and Mindanao are ready to help speed up repair and restoration activities.

Also part of its contingency plans, TransCo said it is prepared to deploy the emergency restoration structures (ERS) in case its steel towers would be badly damaged.

ERS are lightweight mini-towers used as temporary replacements while the big steel towers are being reconstructed.

An ERS is usually built within two to three days compared to a normal steel tower which could take six months.

TransCo’s area control centers nationwide are also prepared to undertake immediate “islanding operations” or power restoration activities independent of each other.

TransCo will also reroute power flow using its transmission lines to maximize the operation of power plants located in unaffected areas.

He said this scheme would also reduce the possibility of outages arising from typhoon-damaged power facilities.

Meanwhile, TransCo is appealing to local government units and barangay officials in Eastern Luzon to facilitate the trimming and clearing of tree branches and other obstructions in their localities that may fall on power lines, cause power interruptions and delay expected restoration activities.