Power restored in Samar province

TACLOBAN CITY, July 14 -- Power has been restored in Samar province covering the first and second districts, including the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog, on Friday afternoon after seven days without electricity. 

 On Thursday night the cities of Tacloban, Ormoc and Maasin were energized partially.

According to the latest report of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines ( NGCP) this Friday afternoon, it is ready to receive power from the Malitbog and Upper Mahiao geothermal power plants of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), which were also affected by the earthquake and its aftershocks. NGCP remains in constant coordination with EDC to expedite the delivery of additional supply.

During the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in Ormoc City on Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC)reported that the estimated total economic impact of the power outage is at PHP105 million and to swell to PHP2.1 billion in 20 days.

Power services in the affected areas are still subject to availability of supply, and the whole Visayas Grid may experience rotating power interruptions until power supply stabilizes.

There will be power rotation (load shedding) since supply is not yet stable.

As of 3:00 p.m. Friday, the grid was receiving 56MW from Cebu and EDC’s power plants, with the following allocations: 36MW for Leyte and Southern Leyte, 14MW for Samar and Eastern Samar, and 6MW for Bohol.

The electric cooperatives covered by the partially energized areas issued advisory to limit consumption of energy limit use of air-conditioning unit, iron, refrigerator, and other appliances and gadgets that use high voltage power.

NGCP can only supply 3MW to Calbayog City substation the power requirement of SAMELCO that covers the second district of Samar is 23MW. Load shedding and rotational brown-outs will be experienced until the completion of NGCP’s repair/replacement of the damaged transformers after the July 6, 6.5 magnitude earthquake.

Even with the energization of its lines and with partial restoration of power, NGCP will still work to simultaneously repair and replace damaged facilities in order to permanently restore power transmission services in the affected provinces. (Vicky Z. Arnaiz/PNA)