- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Central Negros Electric Cooperative yesterday assured help to member-consumers of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco), who continue to suffer from widespread blackout in the areas of Manapla, Victorias City, and E.B. Magalona for several days now.
The power outage was triggered after a lightning hit the Noneco substation in Victorias, Atty. John Deles, Noneco area operations manager, said.
Noneco has sought the help of Ceneco to address the mounting complaints of its member-consumers on the widespread blackout.
Deles said they are coordinating with other electric cooperatives to help them in getting temporary power sources.
Aside from Ceneco, he said they have talked with the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II in Dumaguete City to rent its 10MVA substation, as well as renting from a power firm in Cebu.
“Our technical people are studying if the transformer needs only a repair or if we have to purchase a new unit,” Deles said.
Ceneco acting general manager, Atty. Arnel Lapore, yesterday said it would take three to four days for Noneco to connect to its substation in E. Lopez in Silay City.
Lapore said they are looking at two options – either tapping the Ceneco substation in Brgy E. Lopez, Silay City, to supply power to EB Magalona, or allowing them to use their 15 MVA transformer at the CyberCentre in Bacolod City that was donated by Kepco Power.
By tapping the E Lopez substation, Lapore said there will be a problem on power quality when it reaches Manapla due to the distance, unless there is a step-up transformer that will regulate the voltage.
Noneco can only have quality power until Victorias, unless it has a booster, he added.
Lapore also pointed out that there is no existing line from Silay City to E.B. Magalona.
Noneco is asking for a 2.4MVA power from distribution facilities.
Lapore assured Ceneco consumers that the supply being asked by Noneco will not affect power in their coverage area.
“We are coordinating with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to reset their line,” he said./GB
