VECO technical problem sparks power interruption

Various parts of Metro Cebu yesterday experienced power interruptions due to a technical problem at the Ermita substation of the Visayan Electric Company.

VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera said initial investigation revealed that one of their equipment at their Ermita substation bogged down and caused a spark.

Bureau of Fire Protection immediately sent firetrucks to the area in case a fire would erupt since the substation is located in a thickly populated area.

Natera said that their personnel assigned at the Ermita substation are still investigating the cause of the problem.

Residents in the area said they called up the fire department after they heard a loud explosion from a VECO tower around 1:30 p.m. followed by a spark.

Natera explained that the loud sound was due to the failure of their equipment that affected VECO's 69-kilovolt line or Line 2, which serves the Banilad, Ayala, Calamba, Ermita and Pardo substations.

The Ayala, Banilad and Calamba substations serve barangays Lahug, Mabolo, Luz and residential and commercial areas surrounding the Cebu Business Park going to Talamban up to the mountain barangays.

Line 2 is a major line where power supplied by National Power Corporation and other power producers passes through.

However, Natera said that their personnel were able to immediately isolate the Ermita substation, allowing the restoration of power at the Banilad, Ayala and Calamba substations less than 10 minutes after the emergency interruption.

For the Pardo substation, which serves customers in the south starting in Pardo to Tabunok, Talisay City, power was restored at 2:34 p.m.

The restoration work at the Ermita substation, which serves Cebu City's downtown area going to Labangon and Mambaling, was finished at 7:15 p.m.

Also affected by the power interruption was the uptown area, including Capitol Site and Guadalupe. - Wenna A. Berondo