ILOILO City – For the Visayas grid security and reliability, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) must have enough contingency or spinning reserve, said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas who consulted energy experts following the extensive blackout in Western Visayas.
On April 26, Global Business Power Corporation’s (GBPC) 56-megawatt (MW) contract (30 MW with Toledo, Cebu power plants and 26 MW in Panay Energy Development Corporation) expired. It was unclear if there was a replacement.
Also, said Treñas, energy experts recommended having dispatchable (standby) reserve.
There is a need, too, to review and adjust power plant dispatch protocols (big plants first), distribution utilities (DUs) loading protocols, and NGCP, power plants and DUs’ system protection settings, he added.
Another recommendation is for the city’s power distributor, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), to have emergency measures.
Energy experts recommended contracting bilateral emergency power supply agreements (EPSA) on yearly basis with the approval of the Department of Energy (DOE).
“I will send these recommendations to (DOE) Secretary Popo (Lotilla) and other players in the energy industry,” said Treñas.
On the other hand, the city mayor thanked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for ordering NGCP to fast-track their improvement works on transmission lines from Cebu to Negros Island and from Negros to Panay Island.
“This will ensure continuous transmission of electricity in the region and inter-connectivity as well. I am also very thankful to Sec. Popo Lotilla for giving full attention to the problem of Region 6,” Treñas added.
Meanwhile, as per appeal by the DOE to conserve energy, the city government has initiated some energy-saving measures.
For one, lights in public plazas and esplanades will be switched off by 10 p.m. Streetlights will also be switched off one hour earlier./PN
