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Power outage unlikely despite Yellow Alert: DOE

By Joann Villanueva

April 11, 2019, 7:27 pm

MANILA -- A relatively low demand for electricity in the Luzon grid on Thursday practically assured that a power outage would not happen.

"The Department of Energy does not expect any power interruption because of the generally low actual demand and the availability of 247.5 MW (megawatt) under the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) within the MERALCO (Manila Electric Company) franchise area," the Department of Energy said in an advisory.

Earlier in the day, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a red alert notice from 11:01 a.m. to 4 p.m., which was lifted at 2:18 p.m.

It also issued a yellow alert for 9:01-10 a.m. and 3:01-9 p.m.

These notices were issued after four power plants went on unplanned outages and one is on de-rated capacity.

These are the South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation (SLTEC) Unit 1, which is not operating since March 20 due to boiler tube leak and is scheduled to go online by April 13; the Pagbilao Unit 3 that experienced boiler sagging and went offline last April 2 but is scheduled to resume operations on April 16; South Luzon Power Generation Corporation (SLPGC) Unit 2, which was out since April 7 because of vibration in primary air fan and is scheduled to go back online on April 21; and the Sual Unit 1, which experienced piping leak at its boiling circulating pump last April 9 and will resume operations on April 17.

On the other hand, Calaca 2 registered a de-rated capacity of only 200 MW instead of its installed capacity of 300MW.

Because of this situation, the DOE said distribution utilities (DUs), specifically MERALCO, "have already notified the ILP (Interruptible Load Program) participants to activate their self-generating facilities (SGFs) during the mentioned intervals which resulted to the de-loading of 247.5 MW."

"This, along with the energy efficiency and conservation program exercised by the customers, may prevent the potential power interruption within its franchise area," the DOE said. (PNA)

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