BACOLOD City – In response to the recent power outage caused by the failure of a critical transformer, the city government of Bacolod has recognized the efforts of Negros Electric Power Corporation (Negros Power) in restoring electricity services.
The outage was triggered by a malfunction in the 30/37-megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformer at the Alijis Substation, impacting approximately 47,000 consumers.
On August 21, the transformer, belonging to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and operational for 13 years, suffered a significant oil leak that rendered it beyond repair.
Following the incident, a 10-MVA mobile substation from MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) in Iloilo City was installed to support the affected substation.
Roel Castro, president and chief executive officer of Negros Power, confirmed that an 18-MVA power transformer has also been installed at the Alijis Substation.
He assured the public that power would be fully restored by August 27, with preliminary restorations beginning as early as Monday night.
In addition to power restoration, Negros Power has supplied two generators to the Bacolod City Water District-Prime Water to mitigate water supply disruptions caused by the outage.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez expressed appreciation for the community’s patience and reassured residents of the city government’s commitment to expediting the resolution of these issues and enhancing the reliability of the power supply.
Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, chair of the city council’s committee on energy and public utilities, highlighted ongoing communications with Negros Power to keep the community informed of the situation.
Looking forward, Negros Power plans to commence a five-year rehabilitation and modernization program for the Alijis Substation and other facilities inherited from Ceneco, pending regulatory approvals. This initiative marks a significant step in improving power distribution services across Central Negros./PN
