ILOILO City – An unscheduled power interruption disrupted the first workday back for most government and private office employees on Panay Island following the New Year celebrations.
At around 2:20 p.m. yesterday, almost simultaneously, electric cooperatives in the region released public advisories about an unexpected power interruption.
In this city, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) informed consumers that it experienced low voltage.
An hour after, it announced an unscheduled power interruption in all of its power substations.
The power supply of MORE Power gradually returned at 4:37 p.m. The first to restore power supply was its La Paz substation serving barangays in the districts of La Paz, Lapuz and parts of the City Proper.
The return of power to some portions of MORE Power’s coverage followed the energizing of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippine’s (NGCP) Sta. Barbara-Baldoza 69kV lines at 4:30 p.m.
Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) also issued an advisory about an emergency power interruption at 2:21 p.m.
“The entire province of Capiz is currently without power due to system disturbance. We are gathering information from NGCP as to the cause of the incident. We decided to shut down power in Capiz to protect our distribution assets and your appliances from sudden voltage surges,” part of CAPELCO’s advisory stated.
According to the Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO), the province of Guimaras also experienced power interruption due to the tripping of power plants in the Panay Grid.
“We are currently experiencing an unscheduled power interruption affecting the whole province of Guimaras due to a disturbance in the grid operated by NGCP,” part of GUIMELCO’s advisory read.
Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) informed consumers in Aklan about an emergency power shutdown implemented by all substations in Altavas, Kalibo, Lezo, Nabas, Caticlan, and Boracay Island due to unstable voltage. This measure was taken to prevent further damage to the transmission and distribution system and avoid any untoward incidents.
Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO), meanwhile, apologized to its consumers in the province of Antique following an unscheduled power interruption.
But not only Panay Island was affected by the power interruption. Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) in Negros Occidental also experienced power fluctuations.
“Voltage fluctuations are experienced in all CENECO coverage areas,” part of CENECO’s advisory stated.
CENECO assured consumers that its technical team maintained constant coordination with NGCP to identify the cause of the voltage fluctuations.
POWER PLANTS TRIP-OFF
NGCP identified the cause of the unscheduled power interruption as multiple power plant trippings on Panay Island.
In an interview with Panay News, Reagan Alcantara, NGCP’s public relations department lead specialist, said that around 12:06 p.m., Unit 1 of Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) in Iloilo City tripped off due to an internal issue, but no power interruption occurred at that time.
However, at 2:19 p.m., PEDC Unit 2 and Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) in Concepcion, Iloilo, tripped off.
As PEDC Unit 3 was under annual preventive maintenance, Panay Island experienced a lack of power supply, leading to the blackout.
The preventive maintenance of PEDC Unit 3 began last December 2023 and is expected to last this January 2024.
Before 5 p.m. yesterday, Alcantara confirmed that NGCP was gradually restoring the power.
“We are taking a conservative approach to ensure everything is stable and balanced once we restore power,” Alcantara added.
He clarified that only Panay Island was affected by the blackout, but parts of Negros Island might have also experienced fluctuations.
If CENECO or other power distributors in Negros conducted shutdowns, it could be part of their measures to protect their lines and equipment, he clarified.
“At 12:06 p.m., 02 January 2024, NGCP monitored the tripping of PEDC Unit 1 due to an internal issue. At 2:19 p.m., PEDC Unit 2, PCPC, and other plants tripped in Panay Island, isolating it from the rest of the Visayas grid. The cause of the multiple tripping is unknown. 302 MW was lost to the grid, in addition to 150MW on planned maintenance shutdown, including PEDC Unit 3. In total, 452 MW is unavailable. Currently, none of the power plants in Panay Island are generating power,” part of NGCP’s advisory issued past 5 pm stated.
It added: “NGCP is focusing its efforts on stabilizing voltage, and have extended feedback power to Iloilo and PEDC. Load restoration will be done conservatively, by matching loads to restored generation, to prevent repeated voltage failure. At 3:24 p.m., the Negros-Panay interconnection was restored after it tripped at 3:07 p.m.”
‘YELLOW ALERT’
NGCP also issued an advisory that from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Panay Island would experience a “yellow alert” due to the tripping of major plants resulting in a low operating margin, especially since the restoration of affected plants was ongoing.
A “yellow alert” is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s regulating and contingency requirement.
“While NGCP did not implement manual load dropping, distribution utilities may implement load drops due to voltage-sensitive loads or manual disconnection to secure voltage levels. We shall release further details as they become available,” part of its advisory stated.
In a separate media advisory, PEDC confirmed that units 1 and 2 of its power plant tripped off.
“We are still investigating the cause of the tripping, as we are also currently working closely with NGCP on feedback power supply for PEDC Units 1 & 2 to restart as soon as possible. Meanwhile, PEDC Unit 3 is undergoing its annual preventive maintenance shutdown. We shall keep you posted should there be any development,” part of PEDC’s short statement stated.
DISMAYING
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed his frustration.
“I am utterly dismayed that due to an unstable supply the whole Panay Island can be totally isolated. I call on the Department of Energy (DOE) and NGCP to resolve this problem at the earliest possible time. I also call on NGCP to find a more sustainable solution to the problem,” part of Treñas’ statement read.
He added: “The Regional Development Council (RDC) Infrastructure Development Committee will definitely look into this immediately. I am dismayed with this kind of service.”
Treñas, who co-chairs the committee, further urged the DOE, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and other regulatory bodies to hold NGCP accountable.
“NGCP gave Panay and Negros a welcome blackout for 2024 on the first day of work. NGCP should be held accountable for this incompetence,” according to Treñas.
Due to the blackout, Treñas was forced to order an early dismissal of employees at the Iloilo City Hall.
Last April 27, 2023, a similar power blackout hit Panay Island. NGCP attributed this to a “grid disturbance” affecting the Visayas grid.
The prolonged blackout prompted governors in the region, headed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, to call for assistance from the DOE Secretary to ensure such incidents do not recur.
NGCP is the Philippines’ transmission service provider. It has been given a franchise by the government to operate, maintain, and develop the country’s state-owned power grid, and controls the supply and demand of power./PN
