DOE: Power restored to 11 electric cooperatives affected by Abra quake

The 11 electric cooperatives that experienced power interruptions due to the magnitude 7 earthquake that jolted Northern Luzon on Wednesday have restored their services, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Thursday.

Citing a report from the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the DOE said there are a total of 33 electric cooperatives (ECs) in Regions I, II, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), III, IV-A, and V that felt the different intensities of the earthquake.

“Out of the 33 ECs, 11 experienced power interruption but managed to restore their power services within 24 hours, while the rest of the ECs are in normal operations,” the Energy Department said.

The 11 ECs are the following:

Region I

• Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) – 23 municipalities energized
• Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO) - 34 municipalities energized
• La Union Electric Cooperative (LUELCO) - 20 municipalities energized
• Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO) – 15 municipalities energized
• Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (PANELC) III – correction of cut off overhead ground wire at public cemetery, Poblacion, Urdaneta City;

CAR

• Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO) – 27 municipalities energized; ongoing restoration of lateral lines for the remaining household connections
• Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) - 14 municipalities energized
• Kalinga Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO) - 12 municipalities energized
• Mt. Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO) - 12 municipalities energized; ongoing restoration of lateral lines for the remaining household connections

Region III

• Pampanga Electric Cooperative (PELCO II) - seven municipalities energized
• Tarlac Electric Cooperative (TARELCO I) - 17 municipalities energized

The DOE said that an initial estimated damage cost of P4,323,000 to the distribution facilities of ABRECO, MOPRECO, and BENECO was incurred.

The DOE said all power plants are under normal operations, including HEDCOR hydropower plants in Mountain Province that went on outage due to the earthquake.

Likewise, the La Trinidad Hydro Unit 1 (9.5 megawatts) in Benguet went out on July 27, caused by line correction due to the effects of the earthquake. The unit was restored on the same day.

Citing an update from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the DOE said there is a sufficient level of supply and reserves in the Luzon power grid.

The Luzon grid has a capacity of 13,022 MW against a demand of 10,841 MW, with a net operating margin of 1,816 MW and a regulating reserve of 365 MW. —VBL, GMA News