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Transco set to replace damaged transformers

By Arvee Villafuerte

PANGASINAN- The National Transmission Corp. has arranged transfer of three 200-MVA transformers from its Kadampat Substation in Labrador, Pangasinan to temporarily replace the damaged transformers at TransCo’s San Jose Substation in Bulacan.

This is after the spare transformers at the San Jose Substation also broke down prematurely last July after only 10 years of service as against the normal substation transformer lifespan of 35-40 years. As a result, the coal fired plants had limited dispatch and oil fired plants had to be used.

TransCo President Arthur Aguilar said there were technical measures that were also considered to avoid the higher generating costs but these would have a high risk of system breakdown which could result in widespread brownouts.

Aguilar added that the state-owned firm is also fast-tracking the completion of the 230-kV San Manuel-Concepcion-Mexico transmission line which will allow the higher dispatch of hydro-electric plants which are of lower costs compared to oil fired plants being used now.

The transformers from Kadampat are expected to arrive at the San Jose Substation on the first week of September and are targeted for energization by September 27. The transfer was delayed due to the passage of Typhoon Julian last week and the continuing rainy weather which could damage sensitive transformer parts.

“Extreme care should be taken to prevent moisture from seeping inside the transformer during the whole process. Also, these transformers are very large so we’ll need to use a route that will enable the trucks carrying them to pass through all the overpass structures and arches along the way,” Aguilar said.

Once the replacement transformers are in place, TransCo would be able to restore full dispatch of electricity from cheaper power sources in Luzon such as coal fired and hydro-electric plants.