DOE targets partial re-energization of Naga City within Tuesday

The Department of Energy (DOE) is targeting to partially restore electricity in Naga City in typhoon-hit Camarines Sur by Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

“We are developing if we can energize already a portion of Naga City by today. We are developing this strategy because the transmission line from Tayabas, Quezon to Naga City - line 2 - one of the lines there of 250 kilovolts (kV), is already energized,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said during a televised Palace briefing.

“[And] to connect that further [because] Naga City to Concepcion 69kV line is also energized so it’s up to Casureco (Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative) II if they can already connect to the transmission lines para ma-energize natin ang Naga City hopefully by today,” he added.

“But, we are not rushing things because again we want to prioritize the safety of our teams.”

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said that as of 7 a.m., November 3, power has yet to be restored in the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon -- all in the Bicol Region, which was severely hit by Super Typhoon Rolly.

The Energy official also said that the DOE is also looking at how it can utilize the 150-megawatt Bacon-Manito Geothermal Power Plant “to energize a portion of southern Albay and Sorsogon.”

“That is what we are working on. We have a power plant in Bicol that can probably energize a portion of southern Albay and Sorsogon,” Fuentebella said.

“That’s what our technical people from ALECO (Albay Electric Cooperative), SORECO (Sorsogon Electric Cooperatives) I and II, APEC (Albay Power and Energy Corp.) and NGCP (National Grid Corp. of the Philippines) are working on,” he added.

Meanwhile, the DOE official said that Meralco, as of 12 noon Tuesday, is trying to complete the 100% restoration in their franchise areas.

“They already reported as of 6 a.m. today that only 0.02% ang natitira for energization in Southern Luzon. To be detailed about it ang iko-connect na lang ng Meralco that they are trying to finish by 12 noon Laguna, 839; Quezon 495; Cavite 437; and Batangas 67 a total of 1838 customers of 0.027% of its total customers,” he said. --KBK, GMA News