ERC clears Meralco substation expansion

MANILA, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has given Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s biggest power distributor, the green light to expand its substation at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

In a decision dated Aug. 11 but made public only yesterday, the ERC approved the project and also ordered Meralco to pay P1.9 million in permit fee for the project.

Meralco filed the application before the ERC on Dec. 19 seeking to expand its 115 kilovolt substation to serve the power needs of the large load customers and the real estate development in the area.

Specifically, Meralco proposed to add another 83 MVA power transformer and associated facilities in its substation and to construct four new 34.5-kv underground feeders within BGC and several overhead lines.

In its application, Meralco said residential and commercial customers in BGC are currently being served by 34.5-kv distribution feeders from its FBC G-4 substation.

“The project is for the expansion of Fort Bonifacio Global City-4 Substation involving the installation of one 83-MVA three-phase power transformer, one assembly of three-phase kv indoor-type gas insulated switchgear with seven vacuum power circuit breakers and construction of four 34-kv underground feeders. It will address the expected overloading of Fort Bonifactio 83-MVA transformer in 2015 due to the high load growth and new large applications,” Meralco said.

The new load growth will come from developers Federal Land, Megaworld, Shangri-La and The New Group namely Grand Hyatt Residences, Uptown Place Tower 1, 2 and Mall and Net Park with a total expected demand of 25 MVA, the power distributor said.

“With the anticipated deficiency in capacity, Meralco would have difficulty in accommodating these new customers. This project will improve the system reliability and will provide better flexibility in the said area during contingencies,” it also said.

Furthermore, the distributor said without the second 83-MVA power transformer bank, the Fort Bonifacio substation cannot provide adequate capacity to serve the power requirements of BGC by 2015.