THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the construction of a 69 kilovolt (kV) line project with an estimated cost of P644 million in Benguet province.
On April 10, ERC through a social media post stated that the La Trinidad-Calot line project of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) seeks to provide a single outage contingency and improve the reliability and transfer capacity of the transmission line.
“ERC approved this application of the NGCP for its La Trinidad-Calot 69 kV Transmission Line based on our evaluation that the benefits of the project out weight its cost. Electricity consumers will be benefited with this NGCP project in terms of having sustainable electricity and continued economic growth, not only in the province of Benguet but in the entire Luzion region,” stated ERC chairperson and CEO Agnes Devanadera.
Melma Batario, NGCP regional communication and public affairs officer for Baguio-Benguet, Mt. Province and Pangasinan, told SunStar Baguio the project aims to improve the reliability and provide contingency as required by the Philippine Grid Code.
“It will also increase power transfer capacity of transmission corridor,” she added.
ERC’s approval of the line project is subject to optimization based on its actual use. Optimization involves the removal of redundant assets and over-capacity, including inefficient design and 'gold-plated' engineering within existing network.
NGCP is also required to conduct competitive bidding for the purchase of major materials in the implementation of proposed projects.
NGCP under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) or Republic Act No. 9136 is required to seek the ERC’s prior approval of any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities in the pursuit of its mandate to construct, install, finance, improve, expand, rehabilitate, and repair the country’s transmission system and the grid.