DoE backs power industry system audit after typhoon damage
THE Department of Energy (DoE) said on Monday that it is seeking a system audit of the power sector after Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) did extensive damage to the industry.
“We have been pushing for the system audit, but we are looking into the action to be taken by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC),” Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella said in a news conference.
Last week, a group of electricity consumers said they wrote to Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Dec. 21, urging the department to investigate the grid operator’s alleged shortcomings in providing sufficient power to areas affected by the typhoon.
In its letter, the group said it wants an audit of the grid operator’s transmission system to allow the Energy department to pinpoint areas where upgrades may be needed to make the transmission system more resilient.
The ERC was also asked to carry out a financial audit of the NGCP’s capital expenditures for rehabilitating and upgrading the transmission system.
“(The system audit) is not only about the Build Back Better (plans) for the transmission network or the distribution system, it also comes with system operations, better pre-positioning and stockpiling of (electricity) posts,” Mr. Fuentebella added.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed on Nov. 18, 2020, Executive Order No. 120 creating the Build Back Better Task Force to oversee post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery efforts.
The Energy undersecretary also added that the National Transmission Corp., a government agency operating and managing power transmission system that links power plants to the electric distribution utilities, must also perform an inventory.
The grid operator has restored 87 of the 95 transmission lines toppled by the typhoon.
Meanwhile, NGCP Head of System Operations Reynaldo B. Abadilla said that while full power has not been restored to Bohol still, it has sought to prepare Bohol power companies for energization.
Bohol 1 Electric Cooperative and Bohol 2 Electric Cooperative are targeted for power restoration on Jan. 31. — Marielle C. Lucenio
