Luzon Grid under Yellow Alert as reserves thin amid Taal unrest

The Luzon Grid has been placed under Yellow Alert for several hours on Thursday, given the thinning reserves amid the Taal unrest.

In an advisory, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the Yellow Alert will be in place from 10:01 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; from 1:01 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and from 5:01 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

"NGCP has placed the Luzon Grid under Yellow Alert... due to insufficient operating reserve brought about by power plant outages," the NGCP said.

A yellow alert indicates that the grid has thin reserves based on the difference between supply and demand.

Power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Wednesday said over 120,000 customers remain affected by power outages brought about by the eruption of the Taal Volcano.

Alert level 4 has already been raised since the phreatic eruption of the Taal Volcano over the weekend, which means a hazardous eruption is "imminent."

According to the latest reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, ashfall has already affected various areas in Metro Manila.

Damages to agriculture caused by the eruption has already reached P577.39 million, according to the latest data available from the Department of Agriculture. — RSJ, GMA News