By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, July 23 (PNA) — The Luzon grid’s reserve will stabilize at 768 megawatts (MW) on Thursday, according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP’s) power situation outlook.
The extra power demanded by the Philippine Grid Code from Luzon is at 647 MW while Wednesday’s reserve was comparably lower at 366 MW.
The increase in reserves is mainly due to the hike of Luzon’s power capacity, from 7,395 MW Wednesday to 7,751 MW on Thursday.
However, the improved 7,751 MW figure is far from the pre-“Glenda” power supply of 8,706 MW on July 16.
Moreover, the Luzon grid is to have a projected consumption of 6,983 MW.
On the other hand, the demand will likely increase on Friday due to the Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco’s) ongoing restoration efforts on the typhoon-hit areas.
Currently, Meralco has cited that by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, 97.1 percent of their franchise’s power will be restored.
Specifically, Metro Manila and Pampanga has completely received the return of power, followed by Bulacan at 99.82 percent.
Also, Cavite province’s electricity was restored at 98.57 percent, while Rizal’s distribution lines was resurrected at 99.67 percent.
Similarly, nearby Batangas is 86.3 percent restored while Laguna at 87.87 percent.
On the other hand, Meralco’s franchise in Quezon has an updated restoration rate of 69.71 percent.
On Monday, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla reassured four more plants will be back online this week.
First Gen Corporation’s (FGC’s) San Lorenzo Natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant, one of the four plants, was already online on July 22, with a capacity of 500 MW.
The other plants were identified as 735-MW Pagbilao, 600-MW Calaca and the 130-MW BacMan Geothermal Production Field.
The return of the three plants will further improve the Luzon grid’s capacity by 1,465 MW. (PNA)