Nearly 1M power consumer connections up for restoration due to Kristine —NEA

The ongoing onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine  (international name: Trami) has cut off electricity connections of nearly a million consumers across Luzon and the Visayas, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said Wednesday.

At a virtual press briefing of the Department of Energy-led Task Force Energy Resiliency, NEA officer-in-charge and Director for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Eric Campoto said there are a total of 970,814 consumer connections for restoration due to Kristine.

Out of the 86 electric cooperatives (ECs) under monitoring due to the cyclone, Campoto said 50 ECs remain in normal operation, 29 ECs are in partial power interruption, and six are in total power interruption.

The NEA official said to date, 726 out of 1,035 or 70.14% of municipalities are energized.

The initial damage to EC due to Kristine currently stands at P971,410.60.

Meanwhile, in a separate advisory, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said that as of 1 p.m. on October 23, the following transmission lines are unavailable:

Luzon 

• Pitogo - Mulanay 69kV Line (partially energized); Date/Time Out: October 23, 2024/12:07 a.m.; Customer affected: QUEZELCO I 
• Sorsogon-Bulan 69kV Line (partially energized); Date/Time Out: October 22, 2024/9:45 p.m.; Customer affected: SORECO I, SORECO II
• Naga-Libmanan 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 22, 2024/10:13 p.m.; Customer affected: CASURECO I
• Naga-Iriga 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 22, 2024/9:39 p.m.; Customer affected: CASURECO III
• Tiwi C-Pawa 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 22, 2024/10:40 p.m.; Customer affected: ALECO
• Naga-Lagonoy 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 23, 2024/1:43 a.m.; Customer affected: CASURECO II, CASURECO IV

Visayas

• Paranas - Quinapondan 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 22, 2024 / 12:55 a.m.; Customer affected: ESAMELCO
• Maasin - Baybay 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 22, 2024 / 1:07 a.m.; Customer affected: LEYECO IV
• Palanas Cara - Allen 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 22, 2024 / 4:12 p.m.; Customer affected: NORSAMELCO
• Amlan - San Carlos 69kV Line; Date/Time Out: October 23, 2024/9:44 a.m.; Customer affected: NORECO I

NGCP said it has mobilized its line crews and is currently conducting patrols. 

“Simultaneous restoration activities are also being conducted in areas already accessible,” the grid operator said.

The National Power Corporation said two dams, namely Binga and Magat, are currently conducting spilling operations.

The Philippines suspended government work and shut schools as Tropical Storm Kristine barreled towards the country's eastern coast, with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordering responders to prepare ahead of its landfall.

Marcos ordered government agencies to closely monitor the volume of rainfall in the coming days, preposition government resources and anticipate people's needs. —KBK, GMA Integrated News