Customers in Pampanga may face looming transmission service reliability issues as the LGU of San Simon, Pampanga ordered the closure of NGCP’s San Simon 230-kiloVolt (kV) Substation construction site despite complete permits and clearances.
The closure order dated 09 September 2022 and signed by Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. was premised on the allegation that construction of the said substation was being undertaken without the necessary permits required by the local government of San Simon. NGCP presented to the LGU a copy of the building permit it issued for the project last year, 01 June 2021, before project implementation.
To date, the closure order remains in effect, necessitating the stoppage of critical construction activities.
The San Simon 230kV Substation Project is certified as an Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS) by the Department of Energy in 2019. The project aims to reinforce the reliability and stability of power transmission services in the Luzon grid, by serving as alternate source for customers connected to the existing Mexico Substation.
“Without this substation, the reliability of transmission services in the Pampanga area is threatened, and power interruptions are a real possibility,” NGCP said. “We are appealing to the local officials of San Simon led by Mayor Punsalan, to lift the closure order and allow NGCP to continue with this grid improvement initiative. We share the common goal of delivering efficient and reliable services to the Filipino people,” the company appealed.
NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy, Jr. and Co-Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr. It is the sole operating asset of Synergy Grid and Development Philippines, Inc.
