The three power distribution utilities (DUs) in Bohol already started to draw power from the Bohol Diesel Power Plant (BDPP) in Dampas and the Power Barge (PB) 104 in Ubay as emergency power sources while Bohol awaits for the full restoration of power coming from Leyte passing through the facilities of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
The consumers of Bohol Light Company Inc. (BLCI), Bohol Electric Cooperative (BOHECO) 1 and 2 received power late Tuesday night after almost 2 days of total blackout after the province was cut off from the Visayas grid when NGCP’s towers were affected by a landslide caused by the onslaught of typhoon Agaton.
Based on experience of consumers, the power coming from the BDPP and the PB 104 are more expensive than the electricity supply coming from geothermal plants in Tongonan, Leyte.
In a report, BLCI spokesperson Sheryl Paga said BLCI was given an allocation of 9 megawatts (MW) while the 2 other DUs each got 8.5 MW.
She said that consumers should expect intermittent brownouts due to power rationing as a result of the limited power supply.
Power rationing is also expected to happen to consumers of other DUs in the province.
Earlier, NGCP’s spokesperson Betty Martinez said in an interview over Open Forum on Apr. 12, 2022 that it expects to completely erect the emergency restoration system by Apr. 18, 2022 and provide power to Bohol coming from Leyte.
The ERS will temporarily replace the 4 steel towers affected by the landslide in Leyte.