More Power Outages Expected

Frequent power interruptions are annoying. There are times when you’re doing a very important task in the computer for a document badly needed by your boss and then the electricity just go pffft, you’ll surely freak out!

So what’s causing the outages?

In Mindanao, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines – Mindanao Systems Operations (MSO) sent feelers to its member-power distributors informing them of a load curtailment and load shedding schedule.

The letter, addressed to heads of electric distribution utilities, explained the reason of the power outages. It said that the Daily Load Curtailment Schedule is due to “generation insufficiency which is brought about by the shutdown / non-availability of generating units / plants for different reasons (i.e. preventive maintenance, lack of water, etc.), and also due to the critical loading of Pulangi 4 – Kibawe 138kv lines 1 and 2.”

Maximo Adiong, head of the MSO, wrote that the Daily Load Curtailment Schedule “will continue to be in effect until 28th February 2010”.

However, “the schedule for the day [varies as it] would be adjusted / lifted if and when the system conditions warrant,” Adiong stated in the letter.

In our city, no day is a day without power interruption, even if there’s no schedule. Some businesses are already complaining about it. I’ve known someone who used to operate an internet café business here. His transfer to another city was caused by his extreme disappointment over the flimsy service rendered by the electricity provider.

We called them to clarify the issue. The staff over the phone said that residents in the city would need to get used to the frequent brownouts, at least for the moment, because aside from the daily load curtailment schedule, nature is also a factor. She explained that heavy downpour and/or strong wind slash tree branches and leaves; when these come in contact with the power lines, the sub-station automatically trips off.

Oh well, I’m sure there are remedies to the problem. And the power provider should act fast before the problem starts to negatively affect the local economy.