CLARK FREEPORT— In line with its program to enhance understanding of the power grid among various stakeholders, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines hosted a “Power 101 Seminar” for multi-platform media practitioners based in Pampanga and Tarlac at the Park Inn by Radisson Clark here on July 11.
Discussions led by Engr. Alvin Estanislao, district senior manager of North Luzon Operations and Maintenance-District 6, traced NGCP’s coming into being with RA 9136 (Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001) paving the way for the transfer of transmission operations from the monopolistic National Power Corp. to the National Transmission Corporation thence NGCP, a private consortium, winning the bid for the transmission concession, and on January 15, 2009, officially assumed operational control under RA 9511 which granted it a 25-year legislative franchise to operate and maintain the transmission network.
Estanislao clarified that the NGCP mandate as a transmission service provider, delivering high-voltage electricity from power generation plants to distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and large industrial end-users that enables stable power supply across islands.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, NGCP manages 23,109.94 circuit-kilometers (CKM) of transmission lines and a total substation capacity of 58,653.40 megavolt-amperes (MVA). Since 2009, the company has invested roughly ₱395 billion in transmission infrastructure, constructing 5,475.41 CKM of new lines, installing 40,495 MVA in additional substation capacity, and completing 39 new substations nationwide.
For Central Luzon, NGCP highlighted the strategic importance of its ongoing 230-kilovolt transmission line projects, aimed at accommodating Pampanga’s rapid urban and industrial growth.
A flagship project is the San Simon 230-kV Substation, designed to decongest the heavily loaded Mexico Substation and enhance grid connection to the generation hub in Bataan.
However, recurring implementation obstacles such as right-of-way issues, rerouting demands, regulatory delays, and permit bottlenecks, have caused costly slowdowns, the NGCP said.
NGCP’s operational performance is evaluated by the Energy Regulatory Commission through key metrics, including system reliability, grid availability, frequency of outages per 100 CKM, voltage and frequency limit compliance, congestion management, ancillary services availability, and customer satisfaction.
The Power 101 Seminar was capped with an open forum moderated by Arthuro Sinobago Jr., government relations and regional affairs lead specialist from NGCP’s PR division, with Atty. Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP spokesperson and head of public relations; Engr. Arsenio De Guzman, Engr. Roberto Lazona, Engr. Rogelio Miciano Jr., and Engr. Estanislao as resource persons.
Punto Lifestyle Team
