Albay power co-op speeds up repair of facilities

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) is fast-tracking the repair of its facilities after the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) said that the Tiwi geothermal plant is now ready to supply power throughout the Bicol region which typhoon "Milenyo" rendered powerless.

Transco vice president Guillermo Redoblado said the Tiwi geothermal plant is now operational and can supply 100 megawatts to the different electric cooperatives in the region.

Redoblado said Transco’s major power supply was cut off somewhere in Atimonan, Que—zon after "Milenyo" toppled 14 towers at the boundary of Naga City, Camarines Sur and Tayabas, Quezon.

He said it will take some time to repair the towers since they are located in mountainous areas.

"We are going to make a temporary bypass line so as to connect the toppled power lines and we have to rely on the geothermal power plant in Tiwi. There is no other source available, except Tiwi," he said.

Redoblado said power was restored in Naga City Friday night.

"We will inform ALECO that its sub-station on Washington Drive could be energized from our sub-station in Daraga and probably other portions in Legazpi City will have power," he said.

Redoblado said Transco is coordinating with ALECO so its technicians could concentrate on the repair of circuits and distribution lines.

Alex Realoza, ALECO general manager, said, "Our load centers can now have electricity, except those lateral lines which we still cannot immediately repair. Slowly we could make them operational."

Realoza said teams from the Cebu and Davao electric cooperatives and Subic Bay Enerzone are arriving to help them replace toppled electric posts, cut-off cables and damaged transformers.

He said Legazpi City will soon have electricity, as well as Daraga town and the cities of Tabaco and Ligao.

"With the help of these teams, we will be able to restore power within a month. Relying only on our (personnel), it will take us about two months to restore electricity to all areas in Albay," he said.

During her visit to Bicol Saturday, President Arroyo ordered the immediate repair of damaged power facilities across the region, which suffered the brunt of the typhoon’s fury.

ALECO serves 135,454 residential, commercial and industrial consumers in Albay’s three districts.