MORE Power, a local distribution utility, on Friday, April 12, said the energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kilovolt backbone project brings significant relief to the entire Panay and Negros Islands.
Roel Z. Castro, president and chief executive officer of MORE Power and Negros Power, complimented the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for successfully concluding the project during its simultaneous ceremonial energization on Monday, April 8.
“This marks significant relief for us at MORE Power, Panay and Negros Islands. We commend the NGCP for this landmark accomplishment of the new Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) grid,” Castro said in a press statement.
Castro attended the simultaneous ceremonial energization at the NGCP Barotac Viejo Substation with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas.
He noted that the energization comes as summer begins when the demand for all distribution utilities on Panay Island peaks.
When asked about the chances of another 4-day blackout, like what happened in January, Castro said that while the possibility still exist, it has reduced substantially due to the new CNP project.
On January 2 Panay experienced unplanned outages of multiple power generators triggered by a grid disturbance, which resulted in the shutdown of the power plants on Panay Island.
“While that does not yet promise the ultimate level of reliability, there is undoubtedly a significant stride towards improved reliability on Panay Island. For consumers, if before NGCP energized this new CNP project, there was a 50 percent chance of experiencing another 4-day blackout, now the probability is only 10-20 percent”, Castro said.
With the energization of the new CNP 230KV backbone project, Castro said “that the submarine cable’s capacity is now noteworthy because power can be drawn from Leyte, Cebu, Negros and Panay”.
In a recent Philippine Electric Power Industry forum held in Iloilo City, he spoke on the distribution utilities’ responsibility.
Castro emphasized to the stakeholders and concerned government agencies that after all the improvements and modernizations of the generation and transmission sectors, the responsibility falls on the distribution utilities, which ultimately affects the consumers.
“The consumers demand three things. Reliable electricity means blackout-free 24/7, sustainability, and affordability “, Castro said.*