THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said on Wednesday that distribution utilities in Bohol are now drawing power sufficient to sustain stable operations for the power bank that transmits electricity to the provincial capital Tagbilaran.
From the initial 4.8 megawatts (MW) of generated load Tuesday, Bohol 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc., Bohol 2 Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Bohol Light Comp., Inc. increased their load to 9 MW on Wednesday, partially energizing more parts of the province.
“This means that more people are now having their electricity reconnected,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella said at a news conference.
Bohol now has a capacity of 47% or 28 MW at peak demand. Actual peak demand before Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) was 113 MW.
The grid operator has energized one of the three affected transmission lines.
Mr. Fuentebella said that though transmission lines have been repaired, energy actually transmitted is another matter. Lines will only be able to transmit power when distribution utilities and electric cooperatives are able to draw energy from them.
The NGCP hopes to fully restore all transmission lines in Bohol by Jan. 31. The timeline of full power restoration, including the rehabilitation of electric cooperatives and distribution utilities, will be the focus of the Energy department this week, he said.
The DoE said that most of the downstream oil industry will restored this week in the typhoon zone of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Mr. Fuentebella said that 42 retail stations in Cebu and eight retail stations in Palawan will be the focus of restoration efforts this week.
Mr. Fuentebella said some retail stations may have suffered severe damaged, and the DoE will look into whether they can be put back into operation. — Marielle C. Lucenio