NGCP upgrading Northern Samar transmission line

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is upgrading its 69-kilovolt (kV) Palanas-Cara-Catarman line starting this month as part of efforts to provide secure and reliable power transmission services to customers in Northern Samar.

The grid operator said the project would include the installation of 169 steel poles-replacing old and dilapidated wood poles-to bolster the transmission line’s integrity.

“It is part of NGCP’s mandate to ensure the stability and reliability of transmission lines and facilities. The replacement of wood poles along the Palanas-Cara-Catarman line not only ensures efficient and secure delivery of power to our customers in Northern  Samar, but also enhances the stability of the entire Visayas grid,” NGCP said.

Better transmission services would be felt by Northern Samar customers by early 2016, it added.

“For typhoon-prone Samar, this development will lessen the impact of natural disasters on power transmission in the future. NGCP also continues to study other possible improvements on transmission services for future implementation in the area,” the company noted.

The said line, which transmits power to Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (Norsamelco), is part of the nationwide network of transmission assets NGCP took over as power transmission service provider in 2009.