Napocor restores power in islands and off-grid areas affected by Ompong

The National Power Corporation (Napocor) said on Friday it has restored power in nearly all its Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) power plants affected by Typhoon Ompong and continues to manage dams in Luzon.

Normal power plant operations are now in effect in the following areas:

Batanes

• Sabtang Diesel Power Plant
• Itbayat  Diesel Power Plant
• Basco Diesel Power Plant

Cagayan

• Calayan Diesel Power Plant
• Balatubat Diesel Power Plant
• Minabel Diesel Power Plant

Isabela

• Palanan Diesel Power Plant
• Maconacon mini-grid

Aurora

• Casiguran Diesel Power Plant

However, the Kabugao Diesel Power Plant in Apayao remains nonoperational while waiting for the distribution line to be restored.

“During typhoons or natural disaster, our protocol demands us to shut down power plants in order to protect our generating sets from mechanical stress that can be caused by distribution line disturbances,” said Napocor president and CEO Pio J. Benavidez.

In returning power back to the grid after clearing operations, Napocor said coordinates with electric cooperatives and distribution utilities.  

As of 8 a.m. Friday, Napocor has stopped spilling operations at San Roque dam as the water elevation reached 275.24 meters above sea level. —VDS, GMA News