The Negros Electric and Power Corp. has started implementing its 5-year rehabilitation and modernization plan for the facilities it inherited from Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) after the Energy Regulatory Commission granted a provisional authority for the power provider’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.
Negros Power, in a press statement Sunday, Nov. 10, said that they are now in full swing in implementing their modernization plan.
Negros Power has initiated the rehabilitation and corrective measures at the Reclamation and Asdez-Gonzaga substations, which are in critical condition due to their age, high utilization levels, and the need for extensive overhaul of their power transformers.
They carried out the degassing of the power transformers and hotspot corrections of their accessories to prevent potential failures similar to what occurred at the Alijis Substation in August, the press release said.
Negros Power President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Castro said that seven out of the twelve power transformers in the franchise area have exceeded the standard 25-year lifespan for optimal operation and need immediate rehabilitation.
“We cannot waste more time. We need to implement the rehabilitation now. The aging transformers have started to show signs of deterioration, such as oil leakage, indicating a high risk of malfunctioning, like the recent incident at the Alijis substation on August 21,” Castro said.
Castro also appealed to the consumers’ understanding of the inconveniences these rehabilitation activities may cause.
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) said the CPCN provisional authority will have a positive impact on the power sector in the province.
ACCESS President Wennie Sancho said that with the modernization plan of Negros Power, the consumers must be patient while they implement their 5-year plan.
“The consumers must cooperate fully so that together with Negros Power, we can successfully navigate its 5-year Development Plan and create a brighter energy future for all, grounded on its commitment to provide essential and efficient services to its consumers”, Sancho added.*