Underground cable line of NGCP tripped, says Veco; power restored same day
Hours-long brownouts yesterday affected most of Mandaue City and Liloan town in northern Cebu after an underground cable line tripped.
Areas starting from Paknaan in Mandaue City to Liloan town lost power at 10:52 a.m. when the 138 KV Banilad-Mandaue underground cable line 2 managed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) tripped.
Veco reputations management manager Christine Jill Verallo said several feeders connected to the line resulted in areas experiencing power outage, specifically in north Cebu.
Power was restored starting 10:59 a.m. in Cubacub and Casili in Mandaue City; Calero, Yati in Liloan; and parts of Consolacion town.
The feeder supplying power to 11 Liloan barangays including Tayud, Catarman, Cotcot and Mulao; 5 barangays in Consolacion including Cansaga and Pitogo were online by 11: 02 a.m. A minute later, the feeder supplying power to Cabancalan, Maguikay and Casuntingan in Mandaue City was also up and running. By 11:27 a.m., power was restored in Maguikay, Ibabao-Estancia and Bakilid. By 12:14 p.m., three other power feeders were online restoring power to areas in Tipolo, Subangdaku, Banilad, Bakilid, Ibabao-Estancia, Looc, Alang-alang, Cambaro, Guizo,
Mantuyong in Mandaue City and some parts of Mabolo in Cebu City.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, Veco had already restored power to all affected areas.
Verallo, however, said the grid was unstable and may trip off again.
NGCP Visayas corporate communications officer Ma. Rosette B. Martinez said the 138 KV underground line 2 was still offline.
“Our crew is still investigating the cause of the tripping of the line. Restoration time for the line to get back online is still unknown as of this time,” said Martinez.
Based on the power supply outlook of NGCP, the Visayas grid had a surplus of 309 megawatts yesterday. Supply was 1,801 MW with system peak demand of 1,492 MW.