Power supply fluctuates, water supply a problem

TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines   â€” Consumers continue to bear power interruptions and lack of water supply while the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is still adjusting the limited power generated and transmitted through the emergency restoration system.

Of the 22 megawatts required, Bohol Light Company, Inc. (BLCI) only got eight megawatts from NGCP.

BLCI intended to prioritize the pumping stations of its sister company, the Bohol Water Utilities, Inc., to make sure water is available in the households, but the NGCP fell short of power supply again.

BLCI spokesperson Dice Arcenal explained though that while NGCP is still observing the capacity of the emergency restoration system, the three distribution utilities in Bohol—BLCI, Boheco-1 and Boheco-2—supposedly expect 10 megawatts each.

However, of the previously agreed, BCLI—serving the main Tagbilaran City service area—only got eight megawatts as of this time and a considerable portion of its service area have power back since the evening of November 24, except for some power interruptions every now and then.

A few areas under the Boheco-1 and Boheco-2, on the other hand, were left out in the first wave of transmission restoration on Sunday like in a few barangays in the towns of Cortes, Anda and Jagna.

Power interruptions were also experienced in some service areas of Boheco-1 and Boheco-2 last November 26 from 7:18 pm- 11:15 pm and at 12:02 am to 12:46 am last November 27 which the NGCP explained was caused by the tripping of Ubay-Trinidad-Corella 69kV line.

NGCP confirmed that the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental experienced partial power interruptions between 9 am and  12 noon, some areas between 1pm and 3pm, and others at between 5pm and 8pm.

NGCP admitted it was due to generation deficiency, because of the isolation of several generating plants due to typhoon Yolanda.

"Actual curtailment levels actually varied though, depending on actual supply and demand conditions of each service area," according to NGCP.

Arcenal explained that BLCI further postponed the supposed rotation of power rationing at four hours per feeder, because NGCP's power supply tapped from Cebu remains unstable.  (FREEMAN)