NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced today its plans to complete critical grid improvement projects in Visayas and Mindanao in the coming months.

NGCP's initiatives aim to enhance and reinforce the transmission infrastructure to deliver high-quality and reliable transmission services to its stakeholders. 

The company assures its stakeholders that it will continue to prioritize grid improvement, expansion, and reinforcement projects to meet the growing demand for power transmission services, said NGCP.

On May 27, 2023, NGCP, even announced the successful energization of the Hermosa-San Jose 500-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line, an Energy Project of National Significance. 

The project, which spans Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan, is designed to enhance transmission services and accommodate new bulk power generation from the Bataan area. 

Despite facing various challenges, NGCP's teams worked around the clock to complete the facility, which is a crucial component of the planned Luzon 500kV transmission backbone. 

With the Hermosa-San Jose 500kV project now in full operation, the transmission of power from generation sources to the Metro Manila load center and nearby provinces is expected to improve significantly, according to the NGCP.

As part of the project, in addition to the newly built transmission line from Bulacan to Bataan, a new Hermosa 500kV Substation has been constructed. 

The substation's installation is expected to result in improved voltage regulation and power transfer from the existing 230kV facilities in the region.

NGCP's P10.2 Billion transmission project, which includes the Hermosa-San Jose transmission line and the construction of a new Hermosa 500kV Substation, was provisionally approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

However, the ERC has only allowed the partial recovery of less than 1% of the actual project cost, amounting to P19 Million. Despite this setback, NGCP went ahead with the implementation of the HSJ transmission line to address the pressing need to expand the transmission highway along the Bataan corridor. 

The issue of recovery approvals from the ERC will be addressed later.

According to Henry Sy, Jr., a major stockholder, and the company's former president and CEO, NGCP prioritizes the public's welfare and will always work within the legal and regulatory framework of their concession and franchise. 

Sy hopes to clarify any misconceptions and assure the public that NGCP's commitment to serving them remains unwavering.