The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said it approved the creation of a technical working group to investigate the damage on infrastructure managed by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).
The damage to the transmission facilities of NGCP was attributed to the excavation works performed by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“After due deliberation, the commission resolved to approve the recommendation for the approval of the creation of a technical working group to conduct investigation on the Cebu-Mandaue incident, subject to the revisions on the composition, timelines and scope of work,” the ERC said.
NGCP said in previous reports Line 2 of its Cebu-Mandaue 138-kiloVolt (kV) underground power line was damaged during excavation activities conducted by the DPWH in Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City on Jan. 21, 2023.
The incident triggered the line tripping at 10 a.m. on the same date which forced NGCP to temporarily divert a maximum of 180 megawatts of the affected loads to the remaining Line 1 to restore transmission services to parts of the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and Mactan Electric Co. (MECO) franchise areas.
Prior to the incident, the Cebu-Mandaue 138kV lines 1 and 2 transmitted 274 MW to the two distribution utilities.
NGCP energized its Cebu-Mandaue line 2 at 2:54 p.m. on June 25, 2023, after completing repairs on the said underground line.
ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said there was already an initial assessment by technical team on the incident “but the TWG is necessary to make sure not just technical but legal and market-related issues are addressed as well, including formulation of rules that would apply to similar incidents.”