Keeping power lines alive in Pangasinan

DEFYING GRAVITY A lineman hangs on a post to repair a transmission line in Pangasinan. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

If unexpected power interruptions are few and far between in Pangasinan, it is because of these men who ensure that transmission lines and towers in the province are in good condition every day.

They belong to the “line gangs”— groups of seven linemen who walk several kilometers daily, inspecting overhead cables and steel towers and posts scattered all over Pangasinan.

Employed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), they keep the lines alive, says Lilibeth Gaydowen, the firm’s corporate communications officer. Their duty begins at 8 a.m. when they board a vehicle and are posted at a designated destination for the day.

183 towers each

“On ordinary days, each gang assigned to oversee the structures on flat terrain inspects 30 to 40 structures. But if they are in a rolling terrain, they cover 20 to 30 structures,” Gaydowen says.

There are 732 towers in Pangasinan, each standing 73.1 meters high and 300 m apart. With only four line gangs maintaining them, each would have to cover 183 towers, some traversing mountains in the province’s boundaries with Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya.

They also inspect hundreds of 21.3-m-high steel and wooden posts, which are 100 m apart, Gaydowen says.

While in the field, line gangs should be eagle-eyed to immediately see hot spots, or portions of cables that are, literally, red hot. They also remove tree branches that fell on wires, and other threats that would disrupt the continuous flow of electricity.

During unscheduled shutdowns, they are asked first because they know what structures need replacement or repair.

“Because of this, they are able to easily trace which part went wrong. That way, we are able to restore power quickly,” Gaydowen says.

First line of defense

Allan Sandoval, NGCP District 3 head, says the line gangs are also NGCP’s first line of defense against vandals and thieves.

Some people cut the steel towers’ lower braces, which are 3-5 m long, using hack saws or portable welding equipment, and sell these to junk shop owners.

“This is why part of our campaign against pilferage is to inform junk shop owners not to buy the items and report them to us for us to coordinate with the police,” Sandoval says.

“Pilferage is still happening, but it’s manageable,” he says. “So every time our line gangs see that there is a missing tower part, for instance, it’s immediately replaced.”

Integrity vital

The integrity of transmission line towers is vital because towers having missing parts become unstable and may eventually collapse or bend, he says.

Since the line gangs could not guard all towers and posts round-the-clock, NGCP has sought the help of communities where these structures are located.

“Some power outages are caused by old posts collapsing or bending. That’s why we have a continuing replacement program in cooperation with electric cooperatives,” Sandoval says.

Gaydowen describes the line gangs as NGCP’s “unsung heroes.”

“They are what we consider as backbone of the power industry. Of course, with the support of our technical personnel, our engineers,” she says.