Major NGCP transmission lines in Luzon operational

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Tuesday 14th of August 2012

VIGAN CITY, Aug 14 (PIA) -- The major power transmission lines of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) are intact and fully operational even as heavy monsoon rains and massive flooding persist in the National Capital Region and some parts of Northern and Southern Luzon.

In a phone interview, NGCP spokesperson Cynthia P. Alabanza said these major power transmission lines refer to grid backbone facilities that carry at least 230 kilovolts (kV) of electricity supply for the provinces of Luzon areas.

“As of this time, all other power transmission lines and substations of NGCP across the country are now operational following the restoration at 10:40 a.m. today of the 69-kV line affected by floods in Bataan,” she said.

“If there’s a sudden brown out in some areas in Northern Luzon that might be caused by the local electric cooperatives and not by the NGCP,” she added.

She clarified that the NGCP had always made pronouncement of brownout schedules ahead of the time due to the continuing repair and maintenance of their power transmission lines.

Alabanza said NGCP’s Integrated Disaster Action Plan ensured that preparations and precautions have been implemented to minimize the impact of heavy rains and other natural calamities on NGCP operation and facilities.

She said the preparations included the availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damages to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work.

“As power transmission service provider and grid operator, NGCP continues to monitor the weather and flooding conditions and their effects on power transmission facilities,” she assured. (ANL/FGL-PIA 1 Ilocos Sur)