NGCP warns vs reduced capability of power plants

THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued the “yellow alert” notice to its Luzon grid customers Saturday due to reduced generation.

Available capacity was at 7,727 megawatt (MW) while actual peak demand at 10 a.m. was at 7,300 MW. The unavailability and the reduced capability of certain power plants led to a situation where the available reserves were insufficient to meet the grid’s required contingency of 647 MW. 

It is NGCP’s obligation under the law and its franchise to ensure that the grid operates at an optimum level with due consideration for safety, security and reliability.

NGCP continues to be in close coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), and ensures all the energy available to the grid is dispatched efficiently. It remains committed to providing first-class transmission services to the entire country. 

“NGCP is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to avert, or at least minimize, power interruptions. NGCP does not control power supply but it is doing its best to mitigate the situation in its capacity as the power system operator,” NGCP spokesperson lawyer Cynthia Alabanza said.

NGCP, as System Operator, issues Grid Operation Notices to grid users. “Red alert” refers to the system condition when the contingency reserve is zero or a generation deficiency exists, while a “Yellow alert” is a system condition where the total of all reserves is less than the capacity of the largest plant online, which for the Luzon grid, is 647 MW.  

The system is considered to be under normal condition when system reserves are more than sufficient to meet the reserve requirements of the grid.

The system alert, and the corresponding power curtailment, if any, is lifted once demand recedes or once there is enough available capacity coming into the grid from the power plants. (Rubyloida Bitog)