Bare plans on blackout, NGCP told

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has been ordered to bare its plan of action to avert a repeat of a recent power outage in Luzon and Metro Manila.

The Department of Energy (DOE) issued the order after an investigation confirmed that a system fault caused the widespread blackout on Nov. 15.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Thursday the power system operator should identify the corrective actions it would undertake to prevent another widespread power outage.

Investigation conducted by the DOE showed the Luzon grid encountered a system fault, which caused eight power plants to trip.

“The report said the circuit breaker got busted,” Cusi said.

He said the grid system’s redundancy safety measure did not work, which caused power plants to shut down automatically as a defense mechanism.

The Philippine Grid Code requires the installation of back-up equipment to prevent outage when other transformers are not available or are on a scheduled shutdown.

Cusi said any sanction that might be imposed on the NGCP over the recent power outage is up to the Energy Regulatory Commission, the country’s power regulator.

Eight power plants – Sta. Rita, San Lorenzo, San Roque, QPPL, San Gabriel, GN Power, Limay-A and Bacman – bogged down, causing widespread power interruption in Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Nov. 15.

The DOE had ordered NGCP, the Manila Electric Co. and concerned power-generating companies to submit their reports for an investigation. 

Blackout set in Northen Luzon

A 10-hour power outage will be experienced today in Cagayan and parts of Apayao and Kalinga in the Cordilleras as well as in the northern portion of Isabela.

NGCP Luzon spokesperson Lilibeth Gaydowen said power in the affected areas would be cut from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The power interruption will pave way for the repair and maintenance of the Gamu-Tuguegarao transmission line and its power substations.

The repair will affect areas served by the Cagayan Electric Cooperatives 1 and 2, Isabela Electric Cooperative 2 and Kalinga Electric Cooperative.  – With Raymund Catindig