NEPC Replaces Aging Insulators in Rehab Plan

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By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) is pressing forward with its five-year rehabilitation plan after being issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which formalized its full takeover of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) operations in Central Negros.

On its official social media page over the weekend, Negros Power stated that preventive maintenance is underway on the 44-year-old Bacolod-Silay 69-kilovolt (KV) subtransmission line serving the Lopez, Panaogao, and Talisay substations.

The company said the maintenance is part of a broader effort to modernize aging equipment in its electricity distribution system.

Negros Power is replacing the old, brittle pin insulators on the Bacolod-Silay subtransmission line with newer, more durable models.

The company emphasized that these proactive measures aim to prevent large-scale and unexpected power outages affecting the Lopez, Panaogao, and Talisay substations.

Earlier, Negros Power began upgrading lines along Burgos Street under Burgos Feeder 3 in Bacolod City by installing tree wires, new pin insulators, and cross arms.

These upgrades are also part of NEPC’s five-year modernization plan, designed to enhance reliability and reduce the risk of widespread power interruptions.

As part of its immediate solutions, the company plans to replace old porcelain insulators with polymer insulators, which are more durable and suited for long-term use.

The Bacolod-Silay 69KV subtransmission line, inherited by Ceneco from the National Transmission Corporation in 1980, has been described by Negros Power as “extremely outdated.”

Engr. Leomel Tambanillo, NEPC’s spokesperson, said the aging porcelain insulators have been a frequent cause of unscheduled power interruptions, citing at least 10 breakdowns since NEPC began operations in August 2024.

Last month, Negros Power, in collaboration with the Bacolod city government, launched an underground distribution system along Lacson Street.

Negros Power President and CEO Roel Castro explained that the underground system would initially cover one kilometer of the six-kilometer stretch of Lacson Street.

He said the underground distribution system enhances safety by minimizing exposure to external elements and ensures more reliable power delivery to consumers.

The underground distribution initiative is part of NEPC’s PHP 2-billion rehabilitation plan, with the first phase costing PHP 79 million.