In the aftermath of weather disturbances caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, the energy sector has swiftly mobilized to restore power across affected areas in Luzon, prioritizing regions where floodwaters have receded.
Teams of linemen, engineers, and technical personnel from electric cooperatives in Northern and Southern Luzon, the Bicol region, the National Power Corporation, in case of off-grid areas, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Meralco and other private distribution utilities are working tirelessly to restore electricity in these areas. Their efforts include simultaneous clearing of debris, repairing downed power lines, conducting foot patrols, and rebuilding damaged substations. Despite the widespread damage, the dedication and expertise of these teams are on top ensuring that affected communities will soon regain access to electricity, with utmost priorities to hospitals, and other vital institutions.
As of 25 October 2024, four NGCP 69 kV lines remain offline, impacting four electric cooperatives. These are the Pangasinan I Electric Cooperative (PANELCO I), Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENPELCO), Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative (CASURECO III) and Batangas II Electric Cooperative (BATELEC II). Additionally, Batangas I Electric Cooperative (BATELEC I) is in total power interruption while 45 electric cooperatives are still experiencing partial power interruptions.
In terms of on-grid generation, the Calaca Power Plant has been on emergency shutdown since 24 October 2024, resulting in a derated capacity of 420 MW. The plant is expected to resume operations by Sunday, 27 October 2024.
In the Meralco franchise area, power outages have affected 419,012 customers, a significant reduction from over 580,000 affected earlier. Meralco is working to complete restoration by Sunday, 27 October 2024, as flood conditions improve.
The energy sector’s disaster response and rehabilitation efforts led by the Department of Energy, through the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) go beyond technical work, embodying the spirit of bayanihan, as national and local government agencies, private companies, and non-government organizations collaborate to bring normalcy back to these areas. The dedicated workforce of the energy sector remains on the ground, carrying each responsibility in challenging conditions until full power restoration is achieved. ###