With the energization of its new 138-kilovolt (kV) Butuan-Placer transmission line this month, system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) indicated that reliability on wheeling of generated power will be scaled up in northeastern Mindanao.

The recently completed project entailed the installation of 100-kilometer overhead transmission lines linking Butuan substation in Agusan del Norte to Placer substation in Surigao del Norte.
For that new line, the company emphasized that it spent P1.1 billion, based on the approval rendered to it by the Energy Regulatory Commission. The facility is a component of the Mindanao Reliability Compliance Project-Phase 1.
“With the new line in place, cooperatives in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will benefit from improved voltage level, reduced transmission system losses and the mitigation of unwanted power interruptions in the area,” NGCP said.
Beyond enhancing system reliability, the transmission firm stated that the project will likewise support load growth forecasts for Mindanao grid.
“Through the energization of this project, we are able to deliver quality service and a strengthened transmission network to support the region’s continued growth,” NGCP said.

As explained by the transmission firm, “the old existing Butuan-Placer line was reinforced with a second, alternative circuit to avert load dropping caused by unplanned outages.” That old facility has been in operations since 1995.
It added that “the new transmission line fulfills the N-1 requirement of the Philippine Grid Code,” or that capacity of the transmission system to withstand service disruption given its enabled redundancy in the network.
With the commercial operations of the newly installed Butuan-Placer line, NGCP is renewing its appeal to the public “to help keep the ROW (right of way) corridor of this line free and clear from any obstruction that may hamper its ability to transmit electricity efficiently.”
The company thus called on the residents in the area and the leaders of local government units (LGUs) “to help us safeguard these facilities,” with it emphasizing that these assets “can only continue to serve your area if the ROW corridors are kept clean.” If that is not achieved, NGCP said such ROW barriers can cause unplanned power interruptions and they also pose danger to lives and properties.