By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) has launched its five-year rehabilitation and modernization plan for facilities formerly managed by Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO).
The move follows the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) provisional approval of Negros Power’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, enabling it to fully operate the electric distribution network in Central Negros.
Over the weekend, Negros Power began rehabilitating the Reclamation and Asdez-Gonzaga substations in Bacolod City. These facilities, which are vital for local power distribution, have been marked for urgent intervention due to their age, high operational load, and deteriorating power transformers.
Initial work included degassing power transformers and making hotspot corrections to prevent breakdowns akin to the failure at the Alijis substation in August. That incident underscored the risks posed by aging equipment.
“We cannot waste more time. We need to implement the rehabilitation now. The aging transformers have started to show signs of deterioration, such as oil leakage, indicating a high risk of malfunctioning, like the recent incident at the Alijis substation on August 21,” said Roel Castro, president and CEO of Negros Power.
Out of 12 power transformers in the coverage area, seven have exceeded their standard 25-year operational lifespan and require immediate attention.
Castro called for consumer patience, highlighting the necessity of planned power outages to conduct these repairs effectively.
“Ten to twelve hours of scheduled power interruptions are necessary to facilitate the rehabilitation and preventive maintenance works; thus, we need your understanding and cooperation. We empathize with the inconvenience that it will cause our consumers. However, this will prevent unscheduled, longer, and wider blackouts that none of us want to experience,” he said.
Negros Power’s comprehensive plan aims to ensure more stable power distribution, reducing the risk of future disruptions and securing reliable energy for Central Negros residents.
