State-of-the-Art Mobile Substation In Bacolod And Central Negros, A Huge Possibility Once The Primelectric & CENECO JVA Pushes Through

Bacolod City often experiences frequent unscheduled brownouts. Many people suffer inconveniences, and businesses lose thousands or probably millions of pesos because of this.

The unsatisfactory service provided by CENECO for decades is the reason why many people are pushing for the approval of the Primelectric and CENECO JVA (Joint Venture Agreement). If this happens, the electricity service will improve, and many benefits will be felt by consumers.

Primeelectric/NEPC (Negros Power), owned by Enrique Razon, is the sister company of MORE Electric Power Corporation (MORE Power), a distribution utility in Iloilo City.

Only Stand-Alone Mobile Substation

Last March 2023, MORE Electric Power Corporation (MORE Power) energized a temporary state-of-the-art 30 MVA mobile substation to serve the Molo District in Iloilo City while the permanent substation is undergoing 8 months full rehabilitation.

It was manufactured by Aktif Elektroteknik and supplied via EEI Power Corporation. Major components such as power transformer and switchgears were sourced from Italy and Germany, and assembled by Aktik Elektrotrknik, a Turkey-based company with 40 years of experience in the industry. This is the only stand-alone mobile substation in the country.

MORE Power initially purchased a 10 MVA mobile substation in 2020 which was stationed at Megaworld Property (Iloilo Business Park) to address the big demand and unstable voltage of the Iloilo Business District and at the same time stabilize the critical load of the Mandurriao substation.

Repair of Old Substations

The repair of old substations that MORE Power inherited from the previous power distributor of Iloilo City is expected to start by the first or second week of January 2023.

Features

The modern mobile substation arrived in Iloilo City last December 2022. It’s been completely operational since March 12, 2023.

Among its features are:

⯈ The mobile substation has a power transformer load capacity of 30 Megavolt Amperes (MVA) and can be extended up to 36 MVA.

⯈ It can accommodate five feeder lines according to Engr. Wilmar Gonzaludo, MORE Power substation project manager.

⯈ It’s customized and considered one of the country’s best.

⯈ It’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) ready for easier operation and monitoring.

⯈ It’s equipped with automation features which enable remote controlled operation from MORE Power’s Control Center.

⯈ With primary 69kV side up to 13.2kV side which can operate without the need of additional construction or equipment.

Next Stop

The new mobile substation will be transferred to the Mandurriao substation that’ll be the next to undergo rehabilitation after the Molo substation. Then, it will be moved to the Jaro substation where it’ll be based for good by the end of 2025.

Reliability

MORE Power’s mobile substation is designed to ensure customers’ access to reliable and cost-efficient power supply as the permanent substation is being upgraded.

However, Engr. Gonzaludo said that eight to ten hours of power interruption will be needed for the transfer of the load from the old Molo substation to the new mobile substation. It has enough capacity to shoulder the work of the old substation which is 25 to 30 MVA.

Impact of Repairs

The repairs of old substations are part of MORE Power’s five-year modernization plan. Once fully completed, it’ll have a big effect on the power distribution system’s strength and dependability, and power quality.

Aside from replacing the old equipment and structures, 69kV breakers will be added to connect the looping line going to Megaworld Substation.

This same service, with regards to the mobile substation, and other improvements in electricity services, will be brought to Bacolod City and Central Negros by Primelectric, if their joint venture with CENECO proceeds.

Let’s participate in the plebiscite and vote “YES” to the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA).