DOE Statement: Power Situation for 16 Nov. 2016

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The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to monitor the power situation in Luzon and the Visayas following the tripping of eight large power plants with a total of 2,407 megawatts (MW) capacity at around 7:30 p.m.Tuesday (15 November).

In finding the root cause of the power situation, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi directed all involved industry participants, including generation companies, the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and distribution utilities to explain in writing what could have occurred in their respective areas of concern.

The occurrence resulted in the loss of power to several localities within the Luzon grid which lasted for about 1 hour and 20 minutes (7:30 p.m.-8:50 p.m.) as reported by NGCP, the transmission system operator.

Based on the initial findings of the energy family, data showed that the three (3) units of the 600 megawatts (MW) Sta. Rita and the two (2) units of the 526 MW San Lorenzo Natural Gas Power Plants in Batangas had tripped, creating frequency imbalance in the system at 58.68 hertz.

According to NGCP, there were also tripping of motor-sensitive loads in the area resulting in the frequency to bounce back to 61.08 hertz.

However, there was a second set of plants totaling to 1,371 MW that tripped, which are San Roque (95 MW), San Gabriel (420MW), QPPL (452 MW), Bacman (136 MW), Trans Asia (27 MW), and GN Power (151 MW).

The NGCP reported to the DOE that the power situation returned to normal or fully restored at around 8:50 p.m. after an hour of rigorous restoration,” Cusi revealed.

“I am asking for a comprehensive report and will tap experts to come up with a fair analysis on what transpired. We will look into the entire system and the specific roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders. This is to assure the public that there will be enough power supply during the holiday season,” Cusi concluded.

As of 1:00 p.m. today, the power supply capacity in Luzon stood at 9,985 MW with a demand of 8,341 MW and a reserve level of 1,644 MW. For the Visayas, the power supply capacity stood at 1,982 MW with a demand of 1,775 MW and a reserve level of 207 MW.

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