Stable power assured this summer for north Luzon

By Freddie G. Lazaro

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is preparing to ensure reliable and stable power supply during the May 13, 2013 polls.

The power grid company has formed a special task force responsible for the smooth transmission of electricity and creation of contingency plans and measures during the election.

The NGCP’s task force will commence its operation in February and will work 24/7 from May 10 to 17, 2013, Lawyer Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP spokeswoman, said Wednesday.

“NGCP creates a task force every election season to guarantee uninterrupted power transmission, and this election will be no different. Part of the task force’s mandate is to secure the lines and substations from any threats to avoid unplanned outages,” Alabanza said.

“Of course, NGCP can only guarantee that there will be no transmission-related interruptions. Any power interruption caused by other factors, such as generation deficiencies, or those pertaining to distribution utility operations, is beyond our control,” she said.

As part of its preparations, NGCP will defer its regular maintenance activities one week before and one week after the election to make all the transmission assets available for power delivery. “We will make sure that power delivery is excellent and transmission lines and equipment are at their best to ensure that we have electricity for the voting machines,” she said.

It was reported that earlier this month, the Department of Energy created Power Task Force intended to secure the country’s power supply for the mid-term elections. Together with other energy agencies, NGCP is also a member of the said task force.