DOE cites flooding as main hurdle to power restoration

The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified flooding as the single biggest obstacle to restoring electricity in areas battered by super typhoons and heavy monsoon rains, warning that safety hazards can delay repairs for days or even weeks.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella, chair of the Task Force on Energy Resiliency, said repair crews are deployed as soon as weather conditions permit but often cannot work until floodwaters recede.

“Restoring electricity after a typhoon is not just about fixing broken lines,” Fuentebella said. “Flooding blocks access roads, submerges electrical equipment, and exposes our crews and the public to life-threatening hazards. We cannot rush restoration if it risks electrocution, equipment failure, or further damage. Safety always comes first.”

The DOE said the combined effects of Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong in July, compounded by the southwest monsoon, left hundreds of households in Bulacan and Pangasinan without power days after the storms had exited.

Utilities had to wait until floodwaters subsided before beginning repairs, as submerged transformers, substations, meters, and cables require thorough drying, cleaning, and testing before being re-energized.

Prolonged submersion also accelerates corrosion and damages critical components, which can extend outage durations.

Flooding disrupts fuel supply chains as well, with gasoline stations halting operations due to blocked access roads and safety risks, limiting fuel availability for essential services and repair crews.

The DOE stressed that while utility operators may be ready to deploy, ground conditions ultimately dictate how quickly restoration can begin.

“As the President rightly pointed out, this is a problem we must address not only for immediate recovery but for long-term resilience,” Fuentebella said.

He added that the DOE will continue working with utilities, local governments, and other agencies to improve readiness and ensure faster, safer recovery in future disasters.