Power Situation Update from the NGCP

Let me give you a power system update from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). It was sent to me via e-mail by Ms. Belinda Sales - Canlas of NGCP Corporate Communications Division.

POWER SYSTEM UPDATE as of February 15, 2010

Power system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced that the nationwide electricity grid will continue to have lean contingency reserves today.

Electricity supply generated from power plants continues to be low and may not be enough to meet the demand of all power grid users.

The power grid status today is as follows:

LUZON: Available Capacity: 7,247MW / Peak Demand: 6,551 MW/ Reserves: 696 MW
VISAYAS: Available Capacity: 1,061 MW/ Peak Demand: 1,176 / Reserves: -115 MW
MINDANAO: Available Capacity: 1,094 MW/ Peak Demand: 1,210 / Reserves: -116 MW

On maintenance shutdown in Luzon are the following power plants:

(Plant / Rated Capacity (in MW) / Available Capacity (MW))
LUZON

• Binga 1 / Hydro / 100 / 0
• Bacman 4 / Geothermal / 20 / 0
• Ilijan A1 / Gas / 204 / 0
• Sta. Rita 1 / Gas / 265 / 0
• Ilijan A2 / Gas / 204 / 0
• Ilijan A3 / Gas / 204 / 0
• Makban 7 / Geothermal / 40 / 20
• Sta. Rita 3 / Gas / 265 / 0

VISAYAS

• CDPP1 U3 / Diesel / 43.8 / 25
• CTPP1 / Coal / 50 / 0
• MAHA A U1 / Geothermal / 60 / 0
• Maha A TCP / 6.35 / 0

MINDANAO

• AGUS 5 / Hydro / 55 / 41
• PB 118 Unit 2 / Diesel / 100 / 96

Maintenance shutdowns are conducted to make way for preventive maintenance works or repairs which will improve power facilities and services.

Aside from the shutdown of the above mentioned plants, the onset of the el niño dry spell has also limited the available capacity of most hydro power plants.

As the System Operator, NGCP’s main responsibilities are to transmit high-voltage power from generators to distributors and to operate the power system in accordance with the Philippine Grid Code. NGCP does not own nor operate and maintain any power generation and distribution facilities.

As a result of the very thin reserves, the system may be forced to implement load curtailment among grid users to ration the available power and to ensure the reliability and stability of the entire transmission network.

Customers are advised to coordinate with distribution utilities in their area for the schedule of power interruptions, if there are any.