POWER TRANSFORMER. The 15-MVA power transformer loaned by Central Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative to Northern Negros Electric Cooperative that came from Bacolod City arrives in Victorias City Saturday night (Sept. 2, 2023). Several days of massive power outage have hit Victorias City and E.B. Magalona town after the substation in Victorias broke down on Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative)
BACOLOD CITY – After several days of massive power outage, Victorias City and E.B. Magalona town in Negros Occidental obtained assistance to restore electricity for almost 155,000 residents under the coverage area of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco).
On Saturday night, the 15-MVA (Mega Volt Amp) transformer lent by neighboring Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) arrived in Victorias from this capital city while electricity was partially restored in E.B. Magalona after Noneco interconnected with Ceneco’s power lines in Silay City.
“The power transformer has arrived in Noneco Bacayan, Victorias Substation. This will replace the broken transformer. Technical procedures will be conducted before its commissioning,” the management said in a statement.
The two localities first experienced outages almost a week ago when the 15-MVA substation in Victorias malfunctioned on a stormy evening Aug. 28.
Although power was restored the morning after, another power disruption took place a few hours later and electricity has not been available to Victorias residents since then.
“For now, it’s partial power restoration in E.B. Magalona. We are gradually supplying power to balance off the electricity load to prevent overload in the power lines,” read Noceco’s statement.
Parts of neighboring Manapla town, where the Noneco main office is based, are also experiencing power interruption.
The outage has prompted affected local government units to set up charging stations in public places and distribute generation sets to the villages, sent residents to nearby cities of Silay, Talisay and Bacolod to get mobile phone and internet connections, and forced a number of families to stay in Bacolod hotels over the weekend.
The Noneco management had earlier said evaluation showed the full energization of its 15-MVA Victorias substation would have been possible, but would place at risk the remaining connected equipment.
“We must first ensure the safety and accuracy of our whole technical system,” it added. (PNA)
