AboitizPower subsidiary Visayan Electric Company Inc. (Visayan Electric) energized this quarter the first fully digital substation within its franchise area, helping improve overall network reliability and protection.
The rehabilitation of the Visayan Electric’s Pakna-an substation at the Cebu North Road in Mandaue City was supposed to be completed in 2020 but was pushed back due to challenges brought about by the global health crisis.
“We continue to provide reliable power and quality service to our customers, and we were determined to complete this project despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Visayan Electric President and Chief Operating Officer, Raul C. Lucero, said.
Visayan Electric spent P102 million for this project, of which P29 million went into the protection and control systems adopting the IEC 61850, an international transmission protocol standard for communication in medium- and high-voltage electric substations.
“We look forward to rehabilitating our other substations in Lorega and Pardo (Cebu City) in the coming years as well, thereby improving the integrity of our network, which in turn results in better service for our customers,” Lucero added.
A substation plays an important role within a power distribution system, converting high voltage transmission electricity to safe and efficient lower voltage electricity for homes and businesses. The digital conversion of this substation boosts the efficiency, reliability, and availability of power supply through real-time control and protection operations.
The Pakna-an facility is equipped with a system that facilitates online monitoring and assessment, leading to the early detection of technical problems where swift action can then be taken.
The digital transformation of Visayan Electric’s assets leads to the reduction, shortening, and even prevention of power outages and their impact on the community.
As one of the biggest energy firms in the country, AboitizPower seeks to ensure that all its facilities adopt the latest technologies to deliver maximum value in terms of availability and operating efficiency.
Visayan Electric, the second-largest electric utility in the country, is owned and managed by publicly-listed Aboitiz Power Corporation and Vivant Corporation. It serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga, and the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. | NND
