CANE POINTS: NEPC Brownouts

What the heck happened?

Nobody loves power outages. Yet, these things happen, and we can only do so much to prevent them, just as we can only do so much to control the weather. The most we can do is adjust to these uncontrollable, unpredictable changes.

Nobody wanted the substation transformers of NEPC-Ceneco’s Alijis substation to conk out, causing massive brownouts affecting several Bacolod barangays, including Mansilingan, the largest in the city.

Yet it happened.

Most consumers blame NEPC-Ceneco for the power interruption and all the damages and inconveniences it caused them.

“We are the customers, and we pay for whatever electricity we use. It is the responsibility of NEPC-Ceneco to ensure we receive uninterrupted, reliable and affordable electricity” these consumers reason out.

If operating an electric distribution utility is as easy as operating a sari-sari store, where you can simply pick out what you want and then pay for it, then most of us would have been operating our own distribution utilities by now. Sadly, it is not that easy.

Before we lambast NEPC for its perceived inefficiency and lack of preparedness, we should first take time and effort to understand the intricacies of an electric distribution utility, as well as the complex dynamics of the power industry – from generation to transmission down to distribution.

Substations, thru their transformers, convert the high voltage power (69 or 138 kilo volts or KV) from the generating power plant via NGCP’s transmission lines into a lower voltage (still in the KV or thousand volts level). This lower voltage electricty (13.2 KV) are then transmitted thru the primary power lines in the distribution system.

Another transformer or set thereof converts these thousands of volts from the primary lines to 220V (the voltage level suited for our appliances) thru the secondary power lines to our homes.

In converting power from a high voltage to a lower voltage, the electrical coil inside the transformer becomes hot. If their temperature is not controlled, such as when it is frequently overloaded, the coils get so hot that they melt and cause a short circuit and explode inside the transformer.

To control the heat of the coils, oil is infused inside the transformer. The oil functions primarily to absorb and lower the heat produced by the electrical coils in the transformer.

If the oil is not replaced after some time, the oil loses its ability to absorb and reduce the heat, in the same manner that water boils and evaporates when exposed to prolonged, intense heat. That’s also why you need to change regularly the engine oil in your motorcycle or car.

And that’s what happened to the Alijis substation.

NEPC did not want it to happen.

NEPC assumed responsibility over Ceneco’s operations only last August 1. That’s less than one month ago.

It is unrealistic to expect that, after NEPC’s takeover last August 1, all Ceneco’s electric distribution problems will disappear, and it will metamorphose into a Cinderella with a wave of her fairy godmother’s magic wand.

NEPC has committed to upgrade Ceneco’s operations, but it takes time to implement NEPC’s power distribution systems improvement plan. Consumers need to cut NEPC some slack.

We have to understand that NEPC had barely one month to address all Ceneco’s woes. And NEPC is presently moving heaven and earth to restore power to all affected consumers at the soonest time possible.*