Energy dep’t details court rule’s impact

MANILA, Philippines - The energy department Thursday said some portions of Metro Manila should brace for two- to three-hour daily power outages with the shutdown of a major distribution line. The department Thursday detailed the impact of shutting down the Sucat-Araneta-Balintawak transmission line based on the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 58’s order dated Oct. 12 that directed the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) to implement a Supreme Court ruling that favored the residents of Dasmariñas Village in Makati City. The department said the line shutdown should be done in close coordination with power distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), National Power Corp. (Napocor), Philippine Electricity Market Corp., Grid Management Committee and the Energy Regulatory Commission. It noted that many areas in Metro Manila and Bulacan province within Meralco’s north sector would experience the daily power outages during weekdays. These are the Sta. Maria, Bocaue and Meycauayan substations; Caloocan City served by Grace Park substation and the whole of Novaliches served by Novaliches, Bagbaguin and Kaybiga substations; Malabon and Valenzuela served by the Malabon and Malinta substations; most of Manila served by North Port, Tegen, Tutuban and Sta. Mesa substations; most of Quezon City served by Diliman, Kamuning, Sta. Mesa and Novaliches substations; portion of the Makati central business district, including Rockwell Center served by Rockwell bank #1. The Energy department stopped short of detailing Transco’s contingency measures to address the line shutdown. Transco also requested the high court for a reprieve until Jan. 31, 2009 to mitigate the effects of the transmission line shutdown. The Sucat-Araneta line serves as the shortest route of power delivery between the power plants in South Luzon and Meralco’s north sector load center in Metro Manila. The line is considered one of the most critical links in Luzon serving Metro Manila because it delivers the much-needed power from the coal-fired, gas and geothermal power plants from South Luzon, which are being maximized because of lower generation costs compared to North Luzon plants. Without the line, the department added, the smooth flow of electricity from the south will be hampered and Transco will be unable to avoid service interruptions. Napocor began constructing the line in 1996. Dasmariñas residents have asked the regional trial court to issue a stay order on the project due to the hazardous effects of radiation. The court agreed and issued a preliminary injunction in April 2000. The Court of Appeals reversed the decision, saying the lower court did not have jurisdiction over the matter since the structures were of national concern. It said Presidential Decree (PD) 1818 prohibited courts from issuing injunctions against state infrastructure projects. On March 23, 2006, however, the high court ruled that the health and safety concerns of the residents overrode PD 1818. - BusinessWorld