The Alijis Substation Incident: A Wake-up Call
Last Wednesday night, Bacolod City was plunged into darkness when the Alijis Substation’s 13-year-old power transformer, a relic of CENECO’s past, couldn’t take it anymore. It exploded, causing widespread outages and leaving many in the dark. This incident wasn’t just a random act of misfortune. It was a stark reminder of the urgent need for CENECO to be held accountable for its failure to invest in the necessary upgrades to ensure a reliable power supply.
CENECO’s Inability to Cope
For years, CENECO has struggled to keep up with the increasing demand for electricity in Bacolod. The company’s limited resources make investing in essential upgrades and repairs difficult, leading to deteriorating facilities and frequent power outages.
Here are the conditions of CENECO Substations, when the JVA was still being processed.
Here are the Substations Capacity and Loading
The Joint Venture: A Lifeline
Recognizing the dire situation, local leaders pushed for a joint venture between CENECO and Negros Power. This partnership was a lifeline for Bacolod and Central Negros, providing the necessary expertise and financial resources to rehabilitate the city’s electrical infrastructure.
Negros Power’s Swift Action
Even before officially taking over CENECO, Negros Power had already developed a comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization plan. This plan, valued at over 2 billion pesos, aimed to address the critical issues plaguing the city’s power supply.
The explosion of the Alijis Substation transformer highlighted the urgency of Negros Power’s intervention. The company quickly mobilized its engineers to assess the damage and develop a solution to keep the lights on.
- Negros Power enhanced the power grid’s capacity by installing a new, high-voltage cable that linked Alijis Feeder 3 to Murcia Feeder 1, mitigating the impact of the transformer explosion and ensuring a more resilient power supply.
- Negros Power temporarily borrowed a 10KVa Mobile Substation from its sister company, MORE Power, in Iloilo. This additional capacity was crucial in restoring power to the affected areas. The mobile substation was quickly deployed and integrated into the local power grid, providing a reliable source of electricity to consumers until the damaged transformer could be replaced, offering hope for a swift return to normalcy.
- They replaced the damaged transformer with a new 18.5MVA unit, which was successfully assembled and installed in the Alijis substation. This crucial upgrade is a testament to Negros Power’s commitment to providing reliable and efficient power to the community.
While the temporary solutions have helped, the long-term solution lies in Negros Power’s 5-year rehabilitation and modernization plan. This plan aims to upgrade CENECO’s old facilities and prevent future crises.
It’s a big undertaking, but it’s a necessary one. As one of my friends in Bacolod said, “What would have happened to us now if Negros Power hadn’t entered CENECO?”
A Call for Patience
As Negros Power works to improve our power infrastructure, we may experience temporary disturbances. But it’s a small price for a more reliable and efficient power supply in the long run.
Let’s support Negros Power in their efforts and be patient during this transition period. Together, we can build a brighter future for Bacolod.
In Summary, the explosion of the Alijis Substation transformer was a significant setback for Bacolod, but it also highlighted the critical need for infrastructure upgrades. Negros Power’s timely intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation plan offer hope for a brighter future. By investing in the city’s electrical infrastructure, Negros Power is not only ensuring reliable power but also contributing to the overall development and prosperity of Bacolod.
More Articles about Negros Power:
Negros Power Rush to Restore Electricity After a 13-Year-Old Transformer Breaks Down.
Tree Branches: The Silent Culprits Behind Central Negros Brownouts