Since last month, power interruptions have been adversely affecting businesses and families in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. Amidst heated public sentiment, Negros Power proceeded to present its 5-Year Development Plan to the public during a press conference held at Seda Capitol Central in Bacolod City.
The 5-Year Development Plan
NEPC President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Z. Castro presented a comprehensive overview of the ongoing power outages in key areas, including Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Bago, and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
It was noted that from August 1 to 19, 2024, over 2,600 locations with high-risk vegetation were surveyed, identifying more than 600 instances of outages caused by animal intrusion and vegetation interference.
To address these issues, Negros Power is planning to implement an underground cabling initiative. This approach aims to reduce vulnerability to vegetation, animal intrusion, and severe weather conditions.
Related: CENECO Facilities Implode Before Negros Power Takeover
Major Components
As part of its 5-Year Development Plan, Negros Power outlined several major projects, including increasing capacity, upgrading primary and secondary lines, reducing system loss, improving system reliability, and digitalization initiatives. The company also plans to establish a Quick Response Team and implement a Sitio Electrification Program.
Additionally, Negros Power outlined several key recommendations:
- Installing concrete perimeter fences and metal sedusion fencing with proper grounding for substation equipment
- Installation of oil containment basins around power transformers
- Use wedge-type conductor connectors
- Install station-type surge arresters at the 13.2kV feeder take-offs and lightning arresters on each bushing of the Automatic Circuit Recloser
- Installation of 13.2kV Main Power Circuit Breakers, excluding Murcia
- Clearing of vegetation near substations,
- Encasement of control wires for feeder kWh meters in appropriate conduit
- Construction of battery rooms with proper ventilation
- Repair or replace rusted lattice structures and apply protective coatings to prevent further corrosion
The rehabilitation of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental’s distribution utility is not overnight. Nor the takeover is the simple flicking of a light switch.
But we can be assured that Negros Power’s 5-Year Development Plan aims to address the ongoing power issues, improve system reliability, and ensure that the province’s energy needs are met in the coming years.