Cepalco implements 4-hr blackout sked

By KRISTIAN DAVE ACHONDO, Desk Editor
and NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent

THE Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) yesterday resorted to emergency power load shedding even as it scheduled four hours of rotating blackouts that are expected to cripple parts of the city until today.

In an advisory released by Marilyn Chavez, Cepalco spokesperson, the power distributor blamed the blackouts on the continuing power shortage in Mindanao.

Cepalco said it was forced to drop its load due to the reduced power-generation capacity of Agus hydroelectric plants in Lanao that resulted in the implementation of power curtailments by the Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management (Psalm).

Ralph Paguio, Cepalco senior vice president, said the water level of Lake Lanao, the primary source of hydroelectric power in the Mindanao grid, has receded and has reached critical level.

Cepalco scheduled a total of 12 hours of blackout in the city per day or four hours for three areas referred to as Groups 1, 2, and 3.

A blackout from 9 am to 1 pm was scheduled for Group 1 or areas that include the greater portion of Carmen, Upper Carmen towards Dagong, Kauswagan, Bulua, Iponan, a large portion of city proper, Cogon and JR Borja extention up to “Galaxy” in Gusa.

People in Group 2 would experience the power interruption from 1 pm to 5 pm. The areas include some parts of Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental, Bugo, Puerto, Tin-ao, Agusan, Balubal, Tablon,  Malasag, Gusa, Lapasan, Barangay Nazareth, Barangay Macasandig, Tambo, Tibasak, Mandumol up to Taguanao, Upper Balulang, PN Roa and all of Lumbia.

Group 3 that includes Bonbon, Bayabas, Patag, NHA phases 1 and 2, RER phases 1 and 2 and all of Barangay Consolacion, Macabalan, Agora, and greater parts of Villanueva and Jasaan, would experience the blackout from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Chavez however said the time of power switching may vary depending on the actual load curtailment levels set by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). Blackouts may or may not occur when load levels are within allocation.

Elizabeth Ladaga, a NGCP spokesperson, declined to comment when she was asked about the power situation. She said the Psalm-National Power Corp. would be in the best position to answer questions.

Chavez said the NGCP informed Cepalco that there were technical problems but did not elaborate.

Edna Diango, spokesperson of the Misamis Oriental I Rural Electric Service Cooperative (Moresco I), said the power supply in Mindanao remained deficient. She said this promprted Moresco I to dispatch a modular power generation set to ensure that consumers in its franchise area would not suffer from rotating blackouts.

She also said there was an unplanned power outage yesterday because of a falcata tree that tripped off the power line between two towers in Marawi City.

Jerome Soldevilla, a spokesperson of the Steag State Power Inc., said he was unaware on the exact reason for the power load shedding schedule.

“The Grid is supposed to be stable now with Therma South 1 unit fully operational,” said Soldevilla.