Albay, Catanduanes totally without power due to Rolly –DOE

During Monday's Cabinet meeting on the effects of Super Typhoon Rolly, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi reported that the provinces of Albay and Catanduanes were without power due to the typhoon.

Cusi explained that the outages were due to typhoon damage to distribution and transmission lines.

However, two transmission lines, the Tayabas-to-Naga and the Naga-to-Concepcion lines, had been repaired and the Naga area had its electricity partially restored. Power had also been partially restored in Masbate.

The National Electrification Administration estimated that Rolly had caused P2.8 billion in damage to power lines .

As for power generation, Rolly had affected 45 power cooperatives across 25 provinces. Nevertheless, 25 cooperatives were operating normally as of Monday.

Furthermore, six power plants that had voluntarily shut down as a safety precaution were prepared to come back online once power lines were repaired. The six plants were capable of collectively producing 2,199 megawatts of electricity.

Power plants in Albay, Masbate, Romblon, Marinduque, and Quezon were likewise on standby waiting for repairs on power lines.

Meanwhile, in the Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Metro Manila areas, the number of customers without power had been reduced to 19,000 as of 6 p.m.-Monday.

Cusi also reported that there were 22-days of oil stocks available in Rolly-affected areas.

While a price freeze had been imposed on oil products in these areas, the freeze only covered price increases and not reductions.

The DOE expected reductions this week due to the global movement in prices. — DVM, GMA News