New SOPs set to improve power transmission service- NGCP

QUEZON CITY, Aug 31 (PIA) – In a move to continuously improve its daily operations, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) recently revised some of its technical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), especially those pertaining to the inspection of lines and substation equipment.

While most of the SOPs inherited from the former grid operator National Transmission Corporation were already enhanced by concessionaire NGCP since it took over in 2009, the privately owned corporation is bent on finding more ways to better enhance the delivery of high-voltage electricity to its power customers.

“NGCP operates almost 20,000 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines and more than 27,000 megavolt amperes of substation capacity across the country. It’s a huge responsibility that NGCP takes very seriously,” asserted Venusto D. Hamoy, NGCP’s Deputy Assistant Chief Technical Officer for Operations and Maintenance.

The revisions cover the SOPs on inspection of critical substation equipment such as Power Transformer and Shunt Reactor. NGCP created a new inspection checklist to ensure that all parts of the substation equipment function at optimal conditions.

NGCP also improved its line patrolling and vegetation management on lands along the Right-of-Way. Line patrolling, which includes activities like tower-to-tower inspection and aerial patrol, were made more stringent to thoroughly assess the status of transmission lines. For aerial line inspection, NGCP procured gimbal cameras to be installed on helicopters. The cameras are expected to arrive before the end of the year.

“We are working on the more detailed reporting of transmission line and substation inspections as a proactive measure to avoid line trippings that may disrupt services to our customers,” Hamoy added.

Aside from the new procedures, NGCP also conducted a series of training seminars for its engineers. Before the first half of 2013 ended, all substation engineers were given a refresher on substation operations and protocols while a more advanced substation course is scheduled to be rolled out by the 3rd quarter of this year.

NGCP also purchased more than a hundred line trucks and new personal protective equipment for its line personnel to be distributed to all its field offices.

“All these changes and purchases are expected to uplift the level of our day-to-day operations and to develop the skills of our personnel. We acknowledge that these seemingly small changes have a big impact on power delivery to the whole country,” explained Hamoy.

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets. NGCP’s regular maintenance activities and assistance to other members of the power industry aim to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity delivered to customers. (NGCP)###

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Atty. Cynthia D. Perez-Alabanza, Spokesperson- 09175707884

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NGCP, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1100 • Tel. No.: +632.981.2100 • Website: www.ngcp.ph