NGCP takes over Caticlan-Unidos 69kV line from AKELCO

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Friday said it has formally assumed ownership, operation, and maintenance of the Caticlan-Unidos 69-kilovolt (kV) line from Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO).

In a statement, NGCP said it took over the beleaguered transmission line following a directive from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), allowing it “to immediately implement corrective measures to improve the condition of the line and enhance power reliability in the province.”

The grid operator said it is currently addressing recurring outages on the overhead bypass line built as a temporary fix to the damaged 69kV line formerly managed by AKELCO near the Caticlan Airport. 

It said that investigations identified water wave splash and salt spray corrosion as the primary causes of recent failures. 

To avoid water wave splash and salt spray, NGCP said it constructed an adjusted bypass line away from the seashore which will be energized this December. 

“We fully recognize the challenges associated with the condition of the inherited asset, underscored by the brownouts experienced earlier this month,” NGCP said. 

“With the line now under NGCP, we are mobilizing our full technical and financial resources to implement immediate, medium-term, and long-term solutions. Our teams are working around the clock to ensure reliable power for the province,” it said.

The company said a full reconductoring of the affected transmission line will also be undertaken. 

NGCP said it procured the required materials and targets the completion of the activity by March 2026.

The grid operator said the transition of the line’s ownership stemmed from an ERC decision issued in November 2024 which reclassified the Caticlan-Unidos 69kV line from a sub-transmission asset to a transmission facility. 

This means, upon the completion of the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138kV Line, the existing 69kV line will also have a transmission function and will be transferred to NGCP, it said.

NGCP said urgency escalated in September after the 69kV cable was damaged. 

The ERC then issued an order in October directing NGCP to immediately take over the asset to safeguard reliable electricity delivery in the province. —AOL, GMA Integrated News