BACOLOD CITY – Power was fully restored in three areas in northern Negros Occidental on Friday, Oct. 18, three days after a series of power outages.

POWER was restored in northern Negros Occidental after three days. (Noneco)

In a statement, the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) announced that they have achieved 100 percent power restoration for E.B. Magalona, Victorias City, and Manapla as of 10:59 a.m.

On Tuesday morning, Oct. 15, a power outage occurred, affecting more than 30,000 consumers of Noneco in E.B. Magalona and Manapla as well as Victorias City due to a failed 12.5 MVA (megavolt ampere) power transformer at the Victorias substation.

Noneco said that the 10 MVA power transformer they requested from the Negros Occidental Central Electric Cooperative (Noceco) was successfully energized at 2:33 a.m. on Friday and a two-megawatt (MW) temporary power supply from the Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) has been approved.

Noneco also tapped Victorias Milling Co. (VMC), a co-generating company embedded in the 15 MVA Victorias substation distribution line, to provide a 2.5-MW supply of electricity to affected consumers.

However, on Oct.  21, an eight-hour scheduled power interruption will affect some areas of E.B. Magalona to facilitate the installation of 12 primary poles, two units 50 KVA transformers, and stringing of primary lines at Hacienda Tinihaban 1, Barangay San Jose. 

This power interruption from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will affect Sitios San Francisco, Dunca-an, Balaring, Takas Tinihaban, Crossing Railway, and Gary's Place in Barangay San Jose, Noneco said.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding, cooperation, and prayers for the safety of our Warriors of Light during the restoration efforts in this challenging time,” the power firm said.

In August last year, these three areas suffered a five-day blackout due to the tripping of the 15 MVA power transformer at Victorias City substation.