Group seeks power failure probe
A group of electricity consumers wants the government to investigate the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines鈥 allegedly repeated failure to provide enough power in areas affected by typhoons.听
The private company in charge of operating the country鈥檚 state-owned power grid had failed to provide sufficient power during Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)听in 2013, Typhoon听Hagupit听(Ruby) in 2014 and the 2017 earthquake, the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms, Inc. said in a statement on Friday.听
The consumer group said it had written Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Dec. 21 to complain about the听company鈥檚听鈥渋nadequate, weak and grossly unreliable transmission system.鈥听
It also听said it had听sought听an audit of the grid operator鈥檚 transmission system so the Energy department听could听determine the听needed听upgrades听to make the country鈥檚 transmission system more听resilient听to natural disasters.听
鈥淪imilarly, we听urge听the听Energy Regulatory Commission听to conduct a regulatory audit of the funds it provided NGCP meant specifically for听capital听expenditures which cover the rehabilitation and upgrading of the nationwide transmission system,鈥澨齡roup听President听Petronilo听L. Ilagan said.听
Mr. Ilagan also听said the Energy department should听review听the National Grid鈥檚 concession听agreement with the National Transmission Co. He听likewise urged听the Joint Congressional Energy Commission (JCEC)听to听probe听the National Grid鈥檚听franchise.听
Energy Undersecretary Felix William B.听Fuentebella听and National Grid听spokesman听Gregory L.听Yu did not immediately reply to听a text message and call, respectively听seeking comment.听
Typhoon Rai, locally named Odette, toppled almost a hundred transmission lines and 800 power poles of the National Grid in听the Visayas and Mindanao region, company officials told a news briefing on Dec. 29.听The company had听restored 81 transmission lines.听鈥斕Marielle C.听Lucenio听
