September 11, 2024- Amidst the recent power outages affecting the region, Negros Power took center stage as they presented their 5-Year Development Plan to the Province of Negros Occidental and various local government units (LGU’s) officials at Seda Hotel, Bacolod City.

The program commenced with opening remarks from Engr. Bernard Bailey Del Castillo, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Negros Power. This was followed by an acknowledgment of delegates by the Assistant Vice President for Customer Care. The highlight of the event was a detailed presentation delivered by Mr. Roel Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Castro presented a comprehensive overview of the ongoing power outages in key areas, including Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Bago, and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto. He noted that, from August 1 to 19, 2024, over 2,600 locations with high-risk vegetation were surveyed, identifying more than 600 instances of outages caused by animal intrusion and vegetation interference.

To address these issues, Negros Power is planning to implement an underground cabling initiative. This approach aims to reduce vulnerability to vegetation, animal intrusion, and severe weather conditions.

As part of its 5-Year Development Plan, Negros Power outlined several major projects, including increase capacity, upgrading primary and secondary lines, reducing system loss, improving system reliability, and digitalization initiatives. The company also plans to establish a Quick Response Team and implement a Sitio Electrification Program.

Additionally, Negros Power outlined several key recommendations, such as Installing concrete perimeter fences and metal sedusion fencing with proper grounding for substation equipment, install oil containment basins around power transformers, use wedge-type conductor connectors, install station-type surge arresters at the 13.2kV feeder take-offs and lightning arresters on each bushing of the Automatic Circuit Recloser, install 13.2kV Main Power Circuit Breakers, excluding Murcia, clear vegetation near substations, encase control wires for feeder kWh meters in appropriate conduit, construct battery rooms with proper ventilation, and repair or replace rusted lattice structures and apply protective coatings to prevent further corrosion.

Negros Power’s 5-Year Development Plan aims to address the ongoing power issues in the region, improve system reliability, and ensure the province’s energy needs are met in the coming years.
(Source: Bacolod City Public Information Office)