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Alijis Substation’s Power Transformer Fails

I was sitting at home, watching TV and relaxing after a long day, when suddenly the lights went out. At first, I thought it was just a typical power outage, but it quickly became apparent that this was something more serious when the blackout reached more than 2 hours. The culprit? A critical failure of a power transformer that had been serving Bacolod City for the past 13 years. The 30/37 MegaVolt Amperes (MVA) transformer at the Alijis Substation decided it was time to retire, leaving the city in an unwelcome blackout that Wednesday evening.

The Extent of the Damage

Negros Power’s Chief Operations Officer, Engr. Bailey Del Castillo shared that the transformer didn’t go out quietly. It suffered a significant oil leak and a death sentence for such equipment. This wasn’t just a minor issue that could be patched up and returned to service. Unfortunately, the damage was severe enough that the transformer is now considered irreparable.

The Road to Recovery: A New Transformer on the Way

Now, you might be wondering, “What’s next?” Well, Negros Power is on top of it. They’ve already decided to replace the old, busted transformer with a brand-new unit. The only catch is that this is a challenging fix. Installing a new transformer is no small feat, and it’s expected to take around two weeks to get the new unit fully up and running.

Keeping the Lights On A Temporary Fix

In the meantime, Negros Power engineers aren’t leaving the city in the dark. They’ve rerouted and connected feeder lines from the Alijis Substation to nearby substations, pulling together a temporary power supply of about 32 Megawatts. While it’s not the perfect solution, it’s keeping the essential services running until the new transformer can take over.

The Risk of Overloading

However, with these temporary measures comes a risk. Since the rerouted feeders take on more than their usual load, they could become overloaded. To prevent this, Negros Power is keeping a close eye on the situation and might have to implement something called Manual Load Dropping. It’s a controlled way to turn off some power in specific areas to avoid unexpected and more extensive outages. We urge everyone to use electricity wisely during this time.

A Call for Patience

Negros Power is asking for a bit of patience from everyone affected by this situation. The company does everything possible to restore normal operations quickly, but these things take time. They’re working around the clock to ensure Bacolod City has a stable power supply, even with the temporary arrangements.

Looking to the Future: Modernization Plans

While this transformer failure is a headache, there’s a silver lining. Engr. Del Castillo mentioned that Negros Power has big plans for the future. Starting next month, they’ll kick off a 5-year program aimed at the comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization of the Alijis Substation and other facilities inherited from CENECO. This is part of Negros Power’s commitment to evolving as the new Distribution Utility in Central Negros.

Of course, these plans aren’t just wishful thinking. The company is waiting for the Energy Regulatory Commission to grant it a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, giving it the green light to move forward with its modernization efforts.

Summary

In summary, Bacolod City is currently facing a challenging situation due to the failure of a critical power transformer at the Alijis Substation. While this has caused significant disruptions, Negros Power is actively working on a temporary solution while they prepare to install a new transformer. The company has also outlined plans for modernization to ensure a more reliable power supply moving forward. The community’s patience and understanding are crucial during this time of transition.