Blackouts, water rationing in Metro

MANILA, Philippines - Blackouts and water supply interruptions have started in Metro Manila and outlying areas as major power plants conk out and sources of water for households and industries dry up.

Amid the prolonged dry spell, a power outage hit many parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan at 2 p.m. yesterday due to the emergency shutdown of one unit of the 700-megawatt Pagbilao coal-fired power plant in Quezon.

Maynilad Water Services Inc., concessionaire for the west zone of Metro Manila, meanwhile, announced supply interruptions in its service area starting yesterday afternoon following a significant decrease in the flow of raw water from the Angat Dam.

Power was restored at 4:58 p.m., said Joe Zaldarriaga, spokesman for Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s biggest power distributor.

Malacañang promptly assured the public there would be no power interruption this weekend.

Yesterday’s hour-long rotating blackout affected portions of Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Quezon City, Manila and Bulacan.

Aside from Pagbilao, Unit 2 of Team Energy’s Sual plant in Pangasinan – with 647 megawatts – also went offline on Tuesday due to a “conveyor problem.” 

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said the Sual plant is expected to be back today. “So the weekend should not be a problem,” Petilla said, echoing Malacañang’s assurance.

The emergency shutdown prompted the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to put the Luzon grid on red alert from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or during peak hours when demand was at its highest.  The red alert status was further extended from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. due to zero reserve recorded.

The reserve’s reaching zero level was brought about by the emergency shutdown of the 375-megawatt Pagbilao 1, NGCP said in an advisory. The NGCP said available capacity was at 8,139 MW as against demand of 8,403 MW. 

A red alert means there is severe power deficiency while a yellow alert means that contingency reserves are below the minimum level set by the regulator but does not necessarily mean power outages or blackouts. A white alert means the situation is back to normal.

At Malacañang, Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said that based on Petilla’s projection, the erratic power situation would be promptly addressed. 

“And because it’s a weekend the load will be lighter, that’s why they don’t expect a similar situation through the weekend,” Coloma said. “Their projection is that the rotational blackouts will ease up for the weekend.”

Backup supply

To augment the power supply, Meralco tapped Robinsons Land and the SM Group to share a total of 60 megawatts under the so-called Interruptible Load Program (ILP) for Luzon intended to ease pressure in electricity pricing at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), the country’s trading floor for electricity.

WESM prices shot up considerably last year due to the tightening of supply resulting from some power plants going on unplanned shutdowns. ILPs are generating units used as backup for industries and establishments across the country such as malls.

In a separate advisory, Team Energy, operator of the Pagbilao plant, said the emergency shutdown was due to a problem with a valve that regulates the flow of steam to the turbine.

“Pagbilao unit 1 went on emergency shutdown at 2:48 p.m. today due to valve problem. Estimate for it to be back online between five and six days. All efforts are being undertaken to lessen downtime and have the unit back online as soon as possible,” Pagbilao said in its advisory.

The Pagbilao plant is gearing up for expansion.

Aboitiz Power Corp., through Therma Power, Inc. (TPI), entered into a joint venture agreement with TPEC Holdings Corp. for the development, construction and operation of the 400-MW Pagbilao Unit III through Pagbilao Energy Corp. (PEC).

“Pagbilao Unit III will be built in the same location as the existing 700-MW Pagbilao Units I and II coal-fired thermal power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon,” Aboitiz Power said in a disclosure to the local bourse.

Explaining the water interruptions, Maynilad spokesperson Cherubim Ocampo said inflow from Angat dropped from 42 cubic meters per second (cms) to 38 to 39 cms.

As a result of the continuous drop in Angat Dam’s water level, elevated portions of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Quezon City experienced three to six hours of interrupted water supply starting yesterday afternoon. The rest reportedly experienced lower water pressure.

Areas covered by Maynilad also include Manila (except portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Pasay, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon.

It also supplies water to Cavite, particularly to Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario.

Maynilad advised its customers to conserve water and report leaks and illegal connections to Maynilad hotline 1626.

Threat to law and order

While giving assurance that the power problem is being addressed, Malacañang has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify its crime-prevention efforts during blackouts, particularly in Metro Manila, Central Luzon (Region 3) and Southern Tagalog (Region 4A).

The Palace instructed PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima to issue appropriate advisories and alerts to stave off any breakdown in peace and order.

Malacañang said it was issuing the order in anticipation of frequent power interruptions due to the shutdown of Sual and Pagbilao power plants.  

In its order, the Palace said Purisima should “initiate increased anticrime visibility as necessary.” 

PNP chief’s spokesman Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor said all the regional directors are under orders to enforce the Palace directive.

“Elements of the regional, provincial and city public safety battalions and SWAT should also conduct checkpoint, foot and mobile patrol,” Mayor said, quoting from a memorandum from the Directorate for Operations.

“There must be improvement and strengthening of security in vital installations, especially during the rotating blackout,” the memo read. With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla