DOE: Luzon grid back to ‘normal’ Tuesday

NGCP power lines (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Consumers may expect no brownouts on Tuesday as the Luzon grid was operating under “normal conditions.”

In an advisory, the Department of Energy (DOE) said the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) announced the situation at the country’s largest power grid to be “normal.”

DOE said it was due to the reactivation of Unit 1 of the Sual power plant which experienced boiler pump leak last April 9. It has a capacity of 647 megawatts.

“A normal condition for the system means there will be no power interruptions,” the DOE said.

The Luzon grid was put on red alert status for three consecutive days last week as several power plants went out of operation.

It was again placed under red alert on Monday.

READ: Brownouts feared Monday afternoon as Luzon grid goes on red alert

As of Tuesday morning, the DOE said three power plants remained under forced shutdown, namely, the SMC Consolidated Power Corporation Limay Unit 2, Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation Unit 2 and the Pagbilao Energy Corporation Unit 3

Meanwhile, the SEM-Calaca Power Corporation Calaca Unit 2 is de-rated from its declared capacity of 200 MW to only 100 MW.

“Any additional forced outage or de-ration of plants will worsen the situation, while more participation in the ILP or efficiency in the use of electricity by the consumers will help the system,” the DOE noted.

On Monday, DOE Undersecretary and Spokesperson Wimpy Fuentebella said they were expecting the power situation to improve starting Wednesday. /cbb

READ: DOE: Power supply situation may improve starting Wednesday