By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Power has completed the rehabilitation and upgrading of the 30-kilometer Bacolod–Silay 69kV sub-transmission line, marking a major step in enhancing grid reliability across Central Negros.
In a statement Tuesday, Negros Power said the high-voltage line links the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to its substations, serving thousands of households and businesses.
The project involved inspecting, replacing, and upgrading 266 structures across seven segments covering 29.87 circuit kilometers.
A key improvement was the replacement of aging and failure-prone porcelain insulators with more durable polymer versions, addressing a common source of unplanned power outages.
“Before this rehabilitation, broken insulators caused two to three unscheduled outages weekly. Today, I’m proud to report there have been zero insulator failures since December 2024,” said Roel Z. Castro, Negros Power president and CEO, during a recent report to consumer stakeholders.
“This accomplishment shows our commitment to reliability and our investment in building a better energy future for Negros,” he added.
Among the project’s biggest challenges was terrain accessibility—103 of the 277 poles, or 37.18%, are located in remote areas, requiring crews to cross sugarcane fields and muddy terrain for manual repairs.
Despite these hurdles, the project was fully completed through the dedication of Negros Power’s engineers and line workers.
“This is not just an upgrade. It is a clear message to every consumer that Negros Power is serious about system reliability, safety, and long-term progress,” Castro said.
Frank Carbon, co-chair of the Energy and Power Committee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Visayas and former Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, welcomed the development.
“Stable and modern power is essential to economic growth. The direction Negros Power is taking is exactly what Bacolod and Central Negros need,” Carbon said.
