DOE: Florita caused power outages in Northern Luzon

The Department of Energy (DOE) said Wednesday Severe Tropical Storm Florita caused power interruptions in the northern provinces of Luzon.

In its power situation report, the DOE said that a total of 30 electric cooperatives (ECs) from 19 provinces and six regions have been placed under different Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals.

“Out of the 30 ECs, seven experienced power interruption and four ECs managed to restore their power within six hours while the rest of the ECs are in normal operation,” the DOE said.

Citing a report from the National Electrification Administration, the Energy Department said that 378 out of 405 affected municipalities were restored with 17 partially restored and 10 still for restoration.

The following are ECs with total or partial power interruption and on-going restoration are as follows:

• CAGELCO I: Partial power interruption in seven municipalities), on-going restoration with 89.16% of Household (HH) connections restored
• CAGELCO II: Partial power interruption in nine municipalities and total power interruption in 10 municipalities, on-going restoration with 42.55% of HH connections restored
• ISELCO II: Partial power interruption in one municipality, on-going restoration, patrol, and assessment for HH connections

The DOE, citing a report from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), said transmission lines and facilities in Northern Luzon are under normal operations.

“NGCP has resumed normal operations of its Overall Command Center (OCmC) as Severe Tropical Storm Florita poses no further threat to any NGCP facilities. Lines affected by the passage of the weather disturbance were immediately restored,” the grid operator said in a separate statement.

“NGCP assures the public that it is continuously monitoring weather disturbances and is ready to activate its OCmC should there be any threat to its transmission facilities,” it said.

Florita has already exited the country’s area of responsibility, but Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) 1 was hoisted over 11 areas on Wednesday morning.

Rains can be expected over the western areas of central and southern Luzon in the next 24 hours due to the Southwest Monsoon or the Habagat.

The DOE said the following distribution utilities are under normal operations:

• Manila Electric Company (MERALCO)

• San Fernando Electric Light & Power Company (SFELAPCO)

• Clark Electric Distribution Corporation (CEDC)

The agency added that following experienced power interruption but were restored immediately:

• Tarlac Electric Inc. (TEI) - 2 Barangays and portion of SCTEX were affected

• Ibaan Electric Corporation (IEC) - 11 Barangays affected due to heavy rainfalls

The Energy Department said that power generation plants in the affected areas are also under normal operations. —NB, GMA News