Negros Power has been working tirelessly to ensure the safety and reliability of its power distribution network following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on December 9, one of its officials said on Sunday, Dec. 22.
The eruption, which sent ashfall across portions of Bago City and Murcia town within Negros Power’s franchise area, posed a significant threat to the company’s infrastructure, Engr. Mervin Dalian, head of the Network Development and Operations Group, said in a press release.
“We are committed to providing reliable power to our customers, even in the face of natural disasters,” he said.
The ashfall poses several risks to electrical networks, that include the following:
- Insulator Flashover: Ash contamination can cause insulators to fail, leading to power outages;
- Overloading: Ash accumulation can overload lines, potentially causing damage or outages;
- Structural Damage: Ash can weaken poles and light structures, increasing the risk of collapse;
- Tree Falls: Ash-laden trees can fall onto power lines, causing widespread outages; and
- System Malfunction: Ash ingress into HVAC systems can block intakes, reducing performance and affecting critical systems in substations.
To mitigate these risks, Negros Power has been conducting a series of water-flushing operations to clean its facilities, the press release said.
As of Sunday, the company has washed and cleaned almost 450 primary or feeder line pin insulators and replaced 130 pin insulators affected by the ashfall, it said.
This represents a 77 percent accomplishment rate, and flushing activities continue until all affected facilities are cleaned, the press release said.
The company has also taken steps to protect its equipment from ash ingress, ensuring the continued operation of its substations and other critical infrastructure.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees and the reliability of our power supply,” Dalian said.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary steps to protect our facilities and customers”, he added.*