• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) is eyeing the full restoration of electricity to all households in its area of coverage by early next week.
As of Friday (Nov. 7), 65.7 percent of households across its service area have already been reconnected, following the energization of 47 feeders.
In a press briefing, Engr. Bailey del Castillo, Negros Power chief operating officer, said the company is conducting 24-hour restoration efforts to fully bring back electricity following the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino.
“If the feeders are not energized, transformers and secondary lines, including households, cannot be powered,” Del Castillo said, explaining that restoring power takes time because each feeder must be sectionalized to ensure safety.
“We cannot switch on the entire feeder at once. Many trees have fallen and wires have snapped. It’s unsafe and may cause fires. So, we clear, then switch on section by section until the whole feeder is energized,” Del Castillo said.
Some feeders are already fully energized at the backbone level, but lateral lines, especially in interior areas, remain a challenge due to fallen trees and poles. “That’s our main challenge now — vegetation,” he added.
Del Castillo said consumers have been demanding immediate restoration, but the challenge remains such as the limited manpower, noting that they have only 107 workers to cover areas of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago, as well as Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
“We cannot deploy everyone everywhere in one day, so we really have to prioritize,” he said.
With transmission lines now 100 percent restored, all the 11 substations are also fully operational.
Del Castillo appealed for help in the clearing operations.
“We’re not ashamed to ask for help anymore. We really need it. Many people are calling us because everyone wants to be prioritized,” he said, adding that barangay captains have committed to assist and that vegetation teams have been formed.
Aside from the help of More Power in Iloilo and Bohol Light, who are now augmenting Negros Power personnel, Del Castillo said that the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company from Cagayan de Oro City has committed to send a team to assist Negros Power.
At present, Negros Power linemen are working 12-hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., often extended to 10 p.m.
“Our linemen are exhausted, but we remind them that this is our duty to serve,” Del Castillo said.
“Replacing toppled poles takes about five hours per pole. You have to dig, drill, and install wiring — two teams are needed for each pole. That’s why the process is not easy. We need more manpower to speed up the restoration.”
Of the more than 100 poles that need replacement, 64 percent have already been completed. | GB
