Fixing Hotspots and Bacolod Brownouts at Dawn Explained

Last week, the social media platform Facebook was abuzz with public outcry from Bacolodnons denouncing the series of 2AM brownouts. Admittedly, these early morning brownouts interrupted most people’s sleeping time. But here, Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) explains why the brownouts are necessary as they try to prevent worst-case scenarios. As it turns out, Negros Power is fixing hotspots so they scheduled an outage that affected several Burgos Feeders. Know more about the whole story and why these interruptions are necessary.

• Read: Bacolod Power Crisis: 7 Substations in Critical Condition

Early Morning Scheduled Power Interruptions in Bacolod City are for Fixing Hotspots

As they await their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Negros Power continues to work to improve our existing distribution utility.

Using thermal scanners, Negros Power detected hotspots in the 69KV transmission line connecting the NGCP substation in Brgy. Mansilingan to Brgy. Bata in Bacolod City. This supplies power to the Burgos Substation. Due to their very high temperatures, these hotspots are causing a serious risk of connection failure, potentially leading to unexpected, widespread, and prolonged power outages.

• Read: When the Alijis Substation Failed

Preventive Maintenance

To prevent this, Negros Power scheduled preventive maintenance last Saturday from 2 AM to 5 AM. During this time, consumers served by the Burgos Substation experienced a temporary power outage.

The power interruption was necessary to ensure the safety of linemen working on the repairs as well as the residents living near these power lines and poles.

Due to unexpected situations, Negros Power may sometimes finish early. However, the duration may be extended according to the work needed.

After this maintenance, Negros Power can be more confident that unscheduled power interruptions in these critical lines will be avoided or at least diminished.

Before this, the company advised all affected consumers to prepare in advance to minimize inconvenience, such as charging phones and other rechargeable appliances.

What Is a Hotspot and Why It Needs Fixing

As the name implies, a hotspot occurs when part of an electrical connection gets “too hot”. This happens when connections become loose, worn out, or damaged over time. These faulty connections increase resistance, causing heat to build up. If the hotspots are not identified at their early stages, they can lead to equipment failures or unexpected power outages.

Detecting Hotspots

Negros Power uses thermal scanners to monitor its electrical systems regularly and to catch these problems before they escalate. This allows the company to spot unusual heat buildup, signaling a potential hotspot that needs immediate attention.

Why Hotspots Should be Fixed ASAP

Hotspots can create serious risks to the system if not addressed quickly.

It is just a matter of time before the heat could cause connections to break, leading to prolonged outages or costly repairs. Fixing them early helps keep the system running smoothly and prevents larger issues from happening.

• Read: CENECO Facilities Implode Before Negros Power Takeover

The Early Morning Brownouts

When a hotspot is detected, repairs are scheduled as soon as possible. In this case, Negros Power chose the 2 AM to 5 AM window because power demand is at its lowest during these hours, meaning fewer people are affected by the outage. Planning the repairs at this time also allows linemen to work faster and more safely.

Fixing hotspots is part of Negros Power’s 5-year rehabilitation and development plan. The company is taking a proactive stance to upgrade its facilities to provide a more reliable power supply.

In this light, there will be more scheduled outages as the system goes offline for necessary maintenance and upgrades. While these interruptions might be inconvenient at the time, they are crucial for building a stronger power network in the future.

A Call for Understanding from the Consumers

While they know that they can’t please everybody, Negros Power is appealing for the consumers’ understanding and patience during this period. It does feel frustrating, but the company is doing all these to prevent bigger issues in the future. By announcing the interruptions in advance, consumers have time to prepare for outages.

They are trying to salvage the situation left by CENECO to bring the least possible inconvenience to its consumers.

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