Negros Power’s Quick Response: Send MORE Power’s Mobile Substation
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, MORE Power has swiftly dispatched a Ten Megavolt-Ampere (10MVA) mobile substation from Iloilo City to Bacolod City. This proactive step is expected to bring Power back to the Alijis feeders by Tuesday, providing relief to the affected areas.
This rapid response underscores the importance of preparedness for emergencies, particularly when it comes to a fundamental necessity like electricity. The mobile substation, though a temporary measure, is a key player in restoring Power to the affected areas while a more permanent solution is in the works.
The Bigger Picture: Negros Power’s Long-Term Plans
While the mobile substation is a temporary solution, Negros Power is already working on a more permanent fix. They are assembling and installing a new 18MVA power transformer to replace the exploded one. However, this isn’t a quick job—it’s expected to take about one to two weeks to complete.
Negros Power isn’t just stopping at replacing the damaged transformer. They’ve also laid out a six-kilometer-long, larger capacity cable that connects to the Murcia Feeder 1 and Alijis Feeder 3. These feeders have a high demand for Power, and the new cable will help ensure they are better equipped to handle it. The connection and powering of these feeders are expected to happen tonight, providing some much-needed relief to the affected areas.
A Crisis Comes at an Inconvenient Time
What makes this situation even more frustrating is the timing. Negros Power was already gearing up to take complete control of the new Electric Distribution Utility next month, with plans to kick off a massive 2 billion pesos rehabilitation and modernization plan. This plan was designed to upgrade their facilities and prevent this kind of crisis.
Unfortunately, the power transformer at the Alijis substation decided to give out a bit too early, throwing a wrench into their carefully laid plans. As a result, more than 40,000 registered consumers were left without Power, and all seven feeders were affected, with a total demand of 32 Megawatts.
Jonathan Cabrera, the spokesperson for Negros Power, expressed his disappointment over the situation. “It’s unfortunate because it exploded before our scheduled rehabilitation plan next month,” he said. But despite this setback, Cabrera is confident that the company’s long-term plan will prevent similar crises. “The permanent solution here is the implementation of Negros Power’s 5-year Rehabilitation and Modernization of our facilities to prevent crises like this from happening again,” he added.
The Road Ahead: What to Expect
So, what’s next for Bacolod City? In the short term, residents can expect the mobile substation to bring some relief by Tuesday, getting Power back to the Alijis feeders. This will be a temporary solution while Negros Power works on installing the new 18MVA transformer.
In the longer term, Negros Power’s ambitious 5-year Rehabilitation and Modernization plan promises to upgrade their facilities, making them more robust and better equipped to handle the growing electricity demand. While this recent crisis was a significant setback, it’s clear that Negros Power is committed to ensuring that Bacolod City has a more reliable power supply in the future.
Summary
Power outages are never convenient, and the recent explosion at the Alijis substation was particularly ill-timed, given Negros Power’s upcoming plans for modernization. However, the quick response from MORE Power, coupled with Negros Power’s long-term strategy, offers hope that Bacolod City will soon be back on its feet with a more reliable power supply. The road ahead may be challenging, but the city is on track to prevent similar crises with a solid plan.