LAGUNA, Jan 30, 2012 (PIA) – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) admitted that it is having a hard time solving Right-of-Way (ROW) problems that affect its field operations.
In an interview with NGCP
Spokesperson Atty. Cynthia P. Alabanza, she identified the various ROW
violations that hamper the maintenance of NGCP’s transmission facilities.
“Common ROW violations we encounter
are planting of trees within the ROW corridor, grass fires at or around our
facilities, squatting and putting up of structures under our transmission
lines, and kite flying. All of these activities can disrupt the transmission of
power and cause power outages. More importantly, these activities damage our
lines and compromise the safety of the public,” explained Alabanza.
ROW issues have been a concern of
the transmission business even before NGCP took over the operations and
maintenance of the country’s transmission facilities in 2009. “In fact, the
bulk of our ROW concerns were inherited from the National Transmission
Corporation (TransCo).
The year 2012 saw a nationwide total
of 44 outages or line trippings caused by ROW violations. Twenty-five (25)
incidents, or more than half of the total, occurred in Mindanao alone. Apart
from being the cause of the problem, some ROW violators compound the problem by
preventing our people from coming in and fixing damaged lines.
The net effect of all this is that
so many residents relying on our speedy delivery of electricity suffer for the
actions of a few,” Alabanza stated.“These problems also made it more difficult
for our NGCP linemen to efficiently and effectively maintain the lines because,
in addition to maintenance works on the actual transmission facilities, they devote
a substantial amount of time to clearing theland first of vegetation,” she
stressed.
Alabanza said, “ROW violations imply
additional cost to the company because we have to clear the land of vegetation
and structures before we can perform maintenance work. In cases where the ROW violations
cause damage to facilities, the cost implication multiplies. There is the cost
of repairs and restoration, in addition to the cost of additional manpower and
manhourswhich could have been utilized for more inspection and maintenance
activities.”
In addition to operational problems,
NGCP also warned the public of the safety hazards for ROW violators. Transmission
lines are open lines that carry a minimum of 69,000 volts and a maximum of
500,000 volts. “You don’t even have to touch the lines to be electrocuted. Electricity induction may occur once the safe
clearance is breached. In other words,
if you get near enough, even without touching the lines, you are in danger of
being electrocuted,” Alabanza explained.
“Our lines carry electricity that is
more than 300 times the powerof the electricity flowing in our households,
which is just 220 volts. Breaching our safety clearances can be fatal,” warned
Alabanza.
As a preventive measure, NGCP conducts
regular safety information campaigns all over the country through print and
broadcast media. They also conduct information and safety forums at the barangay
level in communities traversed by their facilities to remind the public to take
extra precautions when near the transmission lines. NGCP also coordinates with
LGUs for help in getting word to the public about the risks and hazards of
living under transmission lines.
“At the end of the day, ROW
violations affect our power delivery service. In turn, the distribution
utilities and the public at large suffer and are most affected,” said Alabanza.
NGCP is a
privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing
the country’s power grid. NGCP transmits high-voltage electricity through
“power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission
lines and towers, substations and related assets. NGCP’s regular maintenance
activities and expansion projects aim to enhance the reliability and quality of
electricity delivered to customers. (NGCP/PIA Sorsogon)
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