By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE recurring brownouts and spiraling power rates continue to pester Negrosanons and Bacolodnons. On Facebook (FB), netizens keep on blaming and nixing the three electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental.
Pity the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) and Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco).
But unknown to most, more than 50 percent of these recurring brownouts iare caused by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Appalling, right?
On the other hand, electricity inflation (power rate hike) has lots of triggering factors beyond the electric coops’ control. One of them is the transmission rate by NGCP per se. Thus, recently, the Department of Energy (DOE) asked the Sy-led company to lower its transmission rates if it really wants to help power consumers in the country.
But NGCP seems to be “sulky” on intricate (power) matters.
‘PLAY HOOKY’
The public, however, deserves to be properly informed on what’s really “plaguing” NGCP. Dwelling on a public utility business, NGCP has no choice but to be “vociferous” sometimes. Never let the public, particularly the power consumers guess on what’s going around.
Questions:
* What’s the role of NGCP in the daily or weekly brownouts in Negros?
* Is it “blamable” with regards to these agitating brownouts?
* Is it willing to lower its transmission rate for consumers’ sake?
Keeping mum basically annoys Negrosanons and Bacolodnons. More so that NGCP-Negros’ communication department seems to be always in a “play hooky” mood. It’s always “sitting on the fence” when sought for comment(s) or explanation(s) on brownouts and transmission issues. So vexing!
We hope for a more empowered NGCP-Negros’ communication team soonest. It ain’t good for NGCP to (just) remain silent on pressing issues as it’ll leave an “irritating sting” to its host communities.
Another “polemic issue” about NGCP is the “ONE GRID 2020”. It’s all about the P52-billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP). Such is aimed at unifying the country’s power transmission network for a “healthy competition” leading to having competitive power rates in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The Mindanao grid will be linked to the Visayas thru a high voltage direct current (HVDC) system with 450- megawatt (MW) initial capacity.
MVIP was conceived in the 1980s. But it was only in 2017 when the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) signaled a green light for the project. NGCP then set the target date of completion: December 2020. With this, MVIP’s HVDC submarine cables will pass through Santander, Cebu to Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte.
But the two-year delay already caused lots of doubts. Let’s take into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic. Such may have had affected the works but, probably, not until now.
Hence, the questions are:
* Is there “power play” here?
* Is it true that some power generation companies (gencos) in Luzon don’t want this MVIP for obvious reason – monopoly?
So, are they doing everything to really block such?
‘SIGNIFICANTLY CLOSER’
NGCP, in a statement five months ago, said MVIP was “significantly closer” to completion. It said it already completed some of the key components of the project. Among those done included the cable terminal stations in Cebu and Zamboanga de Norte, and the installation of two 92-kilometer 350-kilovolt (Kv) HVDC power cables and two 92-kilometer fiber optic cables.
“We hope to finish on time. But factors beyond our control required an adjustment to our project timeline,” the NGCP statement read.
Nonetheless, NGCP stressed: “We are working double-time to complete the overhead transmission line portion and advance the project to its commissioning stage to connect the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.”
But when followed up lately, NGCP, somehow, “evaded” to give updates on the project.
Anyways, amid escalating power rates, it’s a must to have an open market for power so to avoid monopoly. By having such, a competitive power pricing is expected to benefit the power consumers.
Hence, we’re wishing then that NGCP will be true enough to its very mandate when it took over the transmission mission from the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) via Republic Act 9511 on January 15, 2009 – ensure and transmit reliable electricity.
Over and above, it must also be keen on what’s happening now when everything seems to be “in trouble”. More so if these things really affect power consumers.
It’s unhealthy to act like “bulag, pipi at bingi” when everyone in Negros is “stunned silence” with the daily unmitigated brownouts and the November 2022 power rate at an average of P18/kWh (kilowatthour)./PN
