Lightning causes poweroutage in Metro Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company has suffered multi-million peso damage after its major transformers in Cabancalan, Mandaue City were hit by a lightning the other night causing power outage in the power utility's entire franchise area yesterday.

VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera said its line one was overloaded at 12 noon yesterday because they were forced to transfer the load from the damaged transformers. The overloading resulted in the tripping off of the substations in Camputhaw, Ayala, Banilad, Cabancalan and Waterfront.

Some of the areas were immediately restored but others experienced at least four-hour brownout. "Power was completely restored at 4:00 in the afternoon," Natera said.

According to Natera, their engineers are still assessing the damage caused by the lightning to its transformers in Cabancalan.

"Engineers are still assessing, either it will be repair or replace. We are doing some measures that our substations won't trip off," she said.

Natera said the transformers were very expensive. There were reports that it cost about P10 million but she could not confirm it.

VECO is the second largest electric utility in the Philippines. It is serving the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay and Naga and four municipalities of the greater part of Metro Cebu - Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanillla and San Fernando.

As of March this year, VECO has a total of 330,660 customers in its franchise area.  (FREEMAN)