RESTORED. Residents of Iloilo City’s coastal barangay of Calaparan stay along the coastlines while waiting for power to be restored on Friday (Jan. 5, 2023). The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the power supply in Panay and Guimaras islands is back following the restoration of all affected feeders, and transmission operations normalized at 12:34 p.m. on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor’s Office)
ILOILO CITY – The power supply in Panay and Guimaras islands is back following the restoration of all affected feeders, and transmission operations normalized at 12:34 p.m. on Friday.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), in its latest statement, said the synchronization to the grid and the full operation of the Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) have normalized transmission operations.
“Basically, all cooperatives (distribution utilities) have been supplied. We continue monitoring the system to ensure it’s balanced as a system operator,” NGCP public relations department lead specialist Reaghan Alcantara said in an interview.
The transmission operator served a total of 419. 2 megawatts (MW) as of 12:34 p.m., with 369. 5 MW coming from Panay power plants augmented by 35.7 MW from other sources in the Visayas.
Alcantara said the demand for Panay and Guimaras varies but ranges from 300 MW to 400 MW.
He suggested that while there is already the normalization of the system, there will no longer be load shedding or rotational brownouts, and those who would experience power interruptions may contact their distribution utilities.
Hee said NGCP stood by its earlier pronouncement that “there was no transmission disturbance” before generating unit 1 of the Panay Energy Development Corporation tripped at 12:06 p.m. on Jan. 2.
“Everything has been blamed on us, but they don’t even have a paper to show it,” he said.
The Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO), on its Facebook page, announced power restoration in several barangays of Nueva Valencia, marking the 100 percent energization of the province at around 11:20 a.m.
The Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO) announced full restoration of its coverage area at noon, while at 12:30 p.m. the Capiz Electric Cooperative said all its feeders are 100 percent energized.
Aklan Electric Cooperative covering Aklan province and all three Iloilo Electric Cooperatives covering the province of Iloilo energized feeders in their areas before 1 p.m. of Friday.
More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), with a franchise area covering Iloilo City, restored electricity in all 24 feeders at around 12:31 p.m.
Meanwhile, data from the Department of Education (DepEd) Western Visayas showed 166 of the 972 public schools that suspended classes upon the order of their local government units due to the power outage resumed classes on Friday.
DepEd regional information officer Hernani Escullar Jr said school heads are advised to coordinate with their school division offices on the appropriate action to ensure learning is not jeopardized.
“They can apply any intervention as long as it meets that learning competencies,” he said. (PNA)
