Transmission company adopts power "load shedding" scheme

NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which handles the transmission of power to electric distributors in Mindanao, is adopting the "load shedding" scheme to maintain the balance of Mindanao's power system.

NGCP information officer Ma. Rosette Martinez explained Wednesday the reason the power consumers in Zamboanga City and other parts of Mindanao had experienced periodic blackouts the past few days.

Click here for stories and updates on the Sinulog 2010 Festival.

Martinez said the NGCP has asked the electric distributors in Mindanao to voluntarily shed load in accordance with their respective allocation in the last three days.

"This was done in view of the lower-than-usual generation capacity of power plants and critical loading on the Pulangi 4-Kibawe 138 kilovolt Lines 1 and 2," Martinez said.

She said the load shedding takes place during peak hours of the day starting from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"The whole exercise (load shedding) is to keep the integrity or balance of the Mindanao power system, giving focus on sufficient back-up reserves for contingency," she added.

Martinez said the NGCP's Mindanao System Operations Department (SOD) orders the lifting of the curtailment when grid load goes downward after the peak hours.

Martinez said no load curtailment is resorted once the generation reserves are sufficient.

The consumers' group complained that the power shedding scheme is affecting them, citing some of their appliances conked out due to the implementation of unannounced schedule of blackouts.

Businessman Ricardo Marmoleño, who owns a chain of bakery, said the unannounced blackouts also affect the business sector.

Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) General Manager Reinerio Ramos said they have to implement periodic blackouts by feeder so as not to be totally cut-off from the Mindanao grid. (Bong Garcia)