The Negros Electric and Power Corp. will undertake another round of proactive maintenance work on the critical Bacolod-Silay 69kV sub-transmission line from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 12.
This will be undertaken to eliminate unscheduled power outages and ensure reliable electricity, Mervin Dalian, Negros Power Network Development and Operations Group head engineer, said in a press release on Thursday, Jan. 9.
This maintenance effort will focus on Segment P of the 30-kilometer line, spanning approximately 4.9 kilometers, he said.
This segment, comprising 43 structures, will undergo suspension insulator replacement, with an estimated 130 insulators to be replaced, he added.
To ensure timely completion of the maintenance, Negros Power will deploy at least 15 teams to conduct the repairs.
Maintenance will also be performed on the Panaogao and Lopez substations.
The Bacolod-Silay sub-transmission line is a vital artery for electricity distribution in the region, carrying power from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) substation in Bacolod to the Panaogao, Talisay and Lopez substations operated by Negros Power, Dalian said.
However, the line’s location traversing sugarcane plantations makes it particularly vulnerable to damage, especially during inclement weather, and difficult to access during repairs, he said.
“This sub-transmission line facility is 40 years old. The accessories are almost worn out and substandard, and they currently cannot accommodate the electricity and voltage requirements,” Dalian said.
“It’s very challenging, and we need to make solutions as soon as possible,” he said.
In December Negros Power completed repairs and replaced hundreds of pin insulators on the first segment of the line, covering a span of 6 kilometers, he added.
This current maintenance effort is part of a larger initiative to repair and upgrade the entire 30-kilometer line, which is divided into seven segments, Dalian said.
The company plans to conduct similar maintenance activities on the remaining segments over the next few weekends, with completion expected by February 2025, he said.
“We understand that power outages can be disruptive, and we apologize for any inconvenience this maintenance may cause, but we need to do this to make our lines robust and reliable,” Dalian added.*