Brownouts seen in Visayas, Mindanao as power plants undergo repair

Brownouts are expected in Visayas and Mindanao — the Philippines’ third and second-largest islands — after some power plants will undergo maintenance, resulting in lower generating capacities. Cebu and Panay islands are seen to incur a shortage of two megawatts (mW) because the Panay Diesel Power Plant, PB 102 and 103, will be repaired, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said during his weekly press conference at Malacañang. He cited a report issued by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). The two islands are at the tail end of the transmission system in the Visayas. In the meantime, brownouts in Mindanao — whose electricity grid remains unconnected to transmission lines of Luzon and Visayas — are caused by a 309 mW power shortage. Dependable capacity is only expected to reach 984 mW but peak demand — which takes place during lunch and dinner time — may climb to 1,293 mW, the NGCP said in its report. Power outages are the result of maintenance work on Agus 6 Unit 1 which will last until June 7, the Western Mindanao Power Corp. Unit 5 plant which will last until June 5, and the Southern Philippines Power Corp. Unit 4 plant which will last until June 30. No brownouts are expected in Luzon because power plants are forecast to produce an excess of 348 mW of electricity. Peak demand in the Philippines’ largest island is seen to hit 7,238 mW on Wednesday, with generating capacity at 7,646 mW. However, scheduled brownouts are expected in Metro Manila this week because water levels in hydroelectric plants — also considered as power sources — are at critical lows. At the same time, electricity demand may fall as cooler weather encourages lesser power consumption. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV