• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Consumer alliance Power Watch Negros manifested its indignation against the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for the massive blackout that hit Western Visayas on January 2, and requested Congress for an inquiry on such public concern.
In a statement, Power Watch secretary- general Wennie Sancho said that the NGCP, as the franchise operator of the grid, should be the center of investigation.
“Because of the widespread damage, there is a need to vindicate the damage suffered by the electric consumers and those who are responsible should be meted out with appropriate punishment under the law,” Sancho said.
Power Watch also urged Congress to use their authority to address the massive blackout which is impeding the economic growth and development in the region.
Sancho also called for a review of power utilities’ compliance with their franchise mandates, and to update the stakeholders on the Visayas grid status, synchronizing protection relays and ensuring grid stability.
At the same time, Power Watch called on the NGCP to enhance grid stability that maximize and integrate energy into the power mix, stressing that a smart grid would allow the transmission system to respond to the demand shifts accordingly.
Through the smart grid, the load has the potential to quickly offset large power losses and the regulation would be easier to implement, Sancho said.
Power Watch also stressed the need for the NGCP to strictly implement the maximum allowable outages per year, starting with imposing fines and/or revoking certificate of compliance of power plants that have been undergoing protracted and recurring unplanned outages.
It added that the NGCP should fulfill its obligation to secure mandated reserves, which should serve as a stop-gap measure during power plant outages, accelerate grid interconnection and other transmission projects to enable transmission of overcapacity from other island.
Sancho also said that the NGCP cannot absolve itself from its responsibility since it is the “main actor” in operating, maintaining and developing the state-owned grid. | GB
