Recent power outages in Negros Occidental have made it clear that the electrical infrastructure of Central Negros needs a serious upgrade. The breakdown of the Alijis Substation left about 48,000 homes and businesses without power. Fierce winds and heavy rains caused another widespread outage. These incidents have highlighted the urgent issues with our power grid. In this context, Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) has introduced a 5-Year Development Plan designed to bring much-needed improvements and stability to the province’s power supply.
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Addressing Critical Issues
At a recent meeting held at Seda Hotel in Bacolod City on September 11, 2024, NEPC President and CEO Roel Castro presented the company’s ambitious P2.5 billion development plan. The timing of NEPC’s 5-Year Development Plan couldn’t be better.
Problem: Aging Infrastructure and Vegetation
Among the key problems identified in the current system are two critical issues: aging and deteriorated substations and unmanaged vegetation. Castro emphasized that many of the 11 substations in Central Negros are in poor condition. Some are around 30 years old, past their economic life, and one is nearly 50 years old. Additionally, over 600 outages from August 1 to 19, 2024, were caused by animal intrusion and vegetation interference.
Read: Mayor Albee Benitez on Negros Power’s Modernization Plans
Solution: A Comprehensive 5-Year Plan
Here is NEPC’s 5-Year Development Plan designed to tackle these issues head-on:
- Upgrading Primary and Secondary Lines: Replace aging power lines to reduce faults and enhance system reliability.
- Underground Distribution System: The project will begin with a bid in November 2024, focusing initially on 1 kilometer along Lacson Street. Completion is expected by May 2025. This initiative aims to minimize outages caused by vegetation, animal interference, and severe weather.
- Reducing System Loss: NEPC aims to cut system losses by 70% over the next five years, focusing on correcting metering inaccuracies.
- Sitio Electrification Program: An investment of P250 million will extend power services to rural and remote areas, improving electricity access for more communities.
- Quick Response Team: NEPC will form a specialized team to address emergency outages swiftly and effectively.
- Introducing Redundancy Design: To improve system reliability, NEPC plans to introduce a redundancy design. This will create backup pathways for power distribution, ensuring that power supply continues through alternative routes if one part of the system fails.
- Rehabilitating and Upgrading Substations: Negros Power aims to rehabilitate aging substations and upgrade their capacities increased to meet current demands.
Additional Upgrades
NEPC will also implement several safety measures at substations, including:
- Installing concrete perimeter fences and metal sedusion fencing.
- Adding oil containment basins around transformers.
- Using wedge-type conductor connectors and surge arresters.
- Clearing vegetation and encasing control wires.
- Constructing battery rooms with proper ventilation and repairing rusted structures.
Looking Ahead
Castro assured that NEPC will make significant improvements without raising distribution rates for the next two years. However, he noted that generation rates from power suppliers are outside the company’s control. Generation rates are pass-through charges, paid directly by NEPC to power plants.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez voiced strong support for the plan. He hopes for cheaper power rates and fewer power interruptions when NEPC improves the distribution system. He emphasized the city’s commitment to monitoring the plan’s progress to ensure its execution.
NEPC and Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) have entered a joint venture to invest in rehabilitating and modernizing CENECO’s distribution system. Since August 1, 2024, NEPC personnel have been managing CENECO’s operations as part of this partnership.
Moving Forward
The 5-Year Development Plan represents a major step forward for NEPC’s commitment to improving power supply across Central Negros. Although there may be some scheduled outages during the upgrade process, the long-term benefits of a stronger, more reliable grid will outweigh these temporary inconveniences.
With proactive measures to reduce system loss, replace aging infrastructure, and implement modern technologies like underground cabling and redundancy design, NEPC is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and dependable energy network. As these projects unfold, residents of Negros can look forward to fewer outages, enhanced service, and a power grid capable of meeting the growing demands of the region.
