NAPOCOR Places Luzon on Red Alert, Electrical Supplies Tighten

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) extends Luzon’s grid on red alert warning amidst the ongoing shortage of electricity in multiple parts of the island.

The alert was officially implemented last Tuesday, April 16, and was extended on Friday which marked the grid’s fourth day on red alert status. The NGCP placed the Luzon grid back on red alert on April 19 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, where rotational brownouts should be expected. 

The electricity interruption will not be experienced by all parts of the Luzon grid. The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) did not resort to the Minimum Load Demand (MLD) on their franchise areas, since their Interruptible Load Program (ILP) de-loaded 200 megawatts to help ease the demand for electricity in the areas.

“Following NGCP’s declaration of another round of Red and Yellow Alerts today, April 19, we already asked the ILP participants for their de-loading commitments,” Meralco said in a released statement. “If necessary, we are ready to implement MLD as part of our responsibility to manage the system.”

Apart from some Luzon areas remaining on red alert, other areas were also placed on yellow alert on Tuesday signaling an imminent threat of rotational brownouts and highlighting the strain on electrical supplies in the region.

NGCP’s Red Alert

The NGCP’s red alert status was triggered when the power reserves dipped below 4 percent of peak demand. With 19 power plants forced into the outage, the Luzon grid faced critical challenges in maintaining electricity reserves. Rotational brownouts become an unfortunate necessity during these periods since it automatically disrupt daily life and business operations.

Apart from the red alert periods (scheduled from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm), the Luzon grid is also placed on yellow alert from 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm. According to data released by NGCP, the margin between the available capacity and the peak demand for electricity was lower at 422 MW on Friday compared to the previous day.

NGCP also placed the Visayas grid on yellow alert from noon to 4:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm—after 12 power plants suffered outages, while 5 kept operating at a lower capacity.

Solving Power Outages 

Looking ahead, stakeholders must prioritize proactive measures to address the underlying issues contributing to the strained electrical supplies. Investments in infrastructure, diversification of energy sources, and enhanced grid management strategies are crucial for building a more resilient and sustainable power system.

As Luzon deals with the repercussions of tight electrical supplies and rotational brownouts, collaboration among government agencies, utility providers, and consumers becomes paramount. This is especially true as the country grapples with the heat of the scorching summer months. By working together to navigate these challenges, stakeholders can pave the way for a more stable and reliable energy future for the region.

References

PNA. (n.d.). Longer red alert in Luzon grid on Friday. PNA. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1222981

PNA. (n.d.). Luzon grid on red, yellow alerts on Tuesday. PNA. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1222698