ILOILO City – As parts of its modernization efforts, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) acquired a modern 33MVA power transformer equipped with on-load tap- changers (OLTCs).
This replaces the more than 30-year-old 20MVA transformer at the General Luna substation in the City Proper, which is one of distribution assets of the previous power utility which MORE Power possessed through a writ of possession during its takeover.
“This will replace the 20MVA ng City Proper. For one, it is already overaged. Second, 20MVA medyo kulang na, especially sa City Proper, if you see the developments. In fact, hindi pa nga full. It really warrants a bigger capacity na transformer or substation,” said Roel Castro, president and chief operations officer of MORE Power.
Castro noted that they purchased this equipment ahead of their plan which is supposed to be by end of the year yet.
The new transformer costs around P50 million, made in South Korea and purchased by MORE Power through MERALCO.
While the new transformer was being prepared for operation, the 20MVA was shut down and to supply the City Proper, its feeder was linked up to other feeders such those n Mandurriao, La Paz, Molo, and Jaro substations.
Castro acknowledged the unscheduled power interruptions due to the high demand for electricity because of high temperatures and the reopening of many commercial establishments, resulting to other feeders to be loaded.
“But again, because these substations are also near full, dinagdagan mo don, siempre medyo naging more critical, but again that is very temporary. Pag natapos natin itong 33MVA, ibabalik na natin yung load. In fact we will be able to de-load pa dahil 20MVA pa lang yung dati, ngayon we have extra 13MVA,” said Castro.
According to Castro, the 30MVA transformer will be functional by next week once MIESCOR (Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation), Meralco’s service provider in electro-mechanical works, engineering, distribution and technical services, is done preparing it.
Richard Ochava, president and chief operations officer of MIESCOR, said the 30MVA transformer addresses the regulation of the voltage without interruptions.
“Siempre the outage is very wide. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang mga causes ng outage. If your problem is voltage fluctuation, ito yung soluyon – it can monitor properly and provide you with the required power for Iloilo,” said Ochava.
According to Ochava, the remote control panel and the transformer itself are state-of-the-art and in line with the modernization efforts of MORE Power.
“These are on-load tap-changers, they are maintenance-free. We have vacuum interrupters so walang mga by-products during operation of the tap-changer,” said Ochava./PN
