NEPC targets full power restoration by weekend

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) Chief Operations Officer Engr. Bailey del Castillo said the power utility aims to fully energize its entire franchise area by the weekend, following widespread outages caused by Typhoon Tino.

Del Castillo reported that of NEPC’s 47 feeders, 13 had been energized as of Wednesday, with restoration ongoing for the remaining 34.

“Since Tuesday, we have prioritized the main lines or backbone feeders first, because we cannot simultaneously energize entire feeders that include lateral lines extending into interior areas,” he explained.

He also said that of NEPC’s 250,000 consumers, about 14 percent had been energized.

The remaining 217,000 consumers—or 86 percent—are targeted to be energized by the weekend, del Castillo said.

He added that if no additional manpower arrives, full restoration may take until the weekend.

“Assuming we have no augmentation, we will reach the weekend, but with more support teams, we hope to complete restoration sooner, especially in rural areas; if any remain without power, these would likely be far-flung locations,” del Castillo said.

“For the city proper, our target is to energize everything over the weekend; that is our promise and our commitment,” he assured.

The typhoon toppled nearly 100 electric poles, about 20 percent of which have already been replaced.

NEPC is still assessing the full extent of the damage but remains focused on restoring power.

Del Castillo said five power sources from the grid are now fully energized by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

However, a total blackout occurred at the height of the storm Tuesday when transmission lines were cut off.

“Many sub-transmission lines pass through open areas where tall poles leaned or fell, and some trees touched power lines, causing short circuits,” he said.

Del Castillo also announced that there will be no power disconnections and no bill payments at NEPC offices for now, as operations remain focused on restoration.

Consumers who wish to pay may do so through NEPC’s third-party collection partners.

“Our offices are open 24 hours a day to receive reports from customers, even at midnight; we record every report to help speed up response,” del Castillo said.

Currently, about 70 teams—or roughly 350 personnel—are deployed in restoration operations across the franchise area.

NEPC has also requested additional crews, linemen, and heavy equipment from outside Negros to accelerate the work.

“In terms of materials, we have no problem; our inventory is complete, and we also have suppliers and partners ready to assist, including MORE Power if necessary,” he added.

Del Castillo emphasized that NEPC’s most urgent need is additional manpower.

“What we need now are more crews, linemen, and construction teams to accelerate restoration; we are committed to restoring power as fast as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) reported minimal impact to its power infrastructure during Typhoon Tino, with major systems remaining intact and restoration efforts well underway.

All three sub-transmission lines, six substations, and 26 feeders were fully energized and did not sustain significant damage during the typhoon, the utility said.

As of Wednesday, only 2,855 customers—about 2.77 percent of MORE Power’s 102,997 consumers—remained affected by prolonged outages. The interruptions were traced to issues in secondary distribution lines, which deliver electricity directly to homes.

The company has received 375 trouble reports, 126 of which have already been resolved. Restoration efforts are being carried out by 25 field teams, each composed of four to five personnel.

Initial assessments found minimal infrastructure damage, with only one primary pole and 11 secondary poles affected.

MORE Power said it expects to complete restoration work swiftly, barring any new weather disturbances.