- 1 week ago
VISAYAN ELECTRIC’S ROTATIONAL BROWNOUT
⚡ From 1 hour to 2.5 hours: Why are rotational brownouts getting longer?
Power interruptions continue to affect communities as Visayan Electric implements longer rotational brownouts. What’s behind the increase in outage duration, and how are consumers coping with the extended power interruptions?
Join us today on Beyond the Headlines as we take a closer look at the situation, its impact on households and businesses, and what consumers need to know.
📺 Beyond the Headlines
🗣️ Your stories. Your concerns. Beyond the headlines.
⚡ From 1 hour to 2.5 hours: Why are rotational brownouts getting longer?
Power interruptions continue to affect communities as Visayan Electric implements longer rotational brownouts. What’s behind the increase in outage duration, and how are consumers coping with the extended power interruptions?
Join us today on Beyond the Headlines as we take a closer look at the situation, its impact on households and businesses, and what consumers need to know.
📺 Beyond the Headlines
🗣️ Your stories. Your concerns. Beyond the headlines.
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NewsTranscript
00:21It starts with a fresh shot of espresso, bold, rich, bold, just right.
00:31Then comes the milk, steamed, sweet, creamy, and balanced.
00:36The perfect latte is not brushed. It is crafted one cup at a time.
00:43Your perfect latte is ready. Coffee first, then everything else.
00:50Good afternoon and welcome to Beyond the Headlines. I'm DJ Moises and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee
00:57First.
00:58Rotational brownouts in Metro Cebu have stretched up to 2.5 hours daily due to severe power generation and transmission
01:07shortages in the Visayas grid.
01:11Outages increase from around one hour to as long as 2.5 hours.
01:16Possible interruptions are implemented between 10 o'clock in the morning to 11 o'clock in the evening based on
01:24grid conditions.
01:25High power demand outstrips available capacity, exacerbated by offline power plants and red-yellow alerts declared by the National Grid
01:35Corporation of the Philippines or NGCP.
01:39Affected providers are Visayan Electric Company or VECO and Mactan Electric Company or MECO have implemented manual load dropping across
01:48their franchise areas.
01:50When power suddenly cuts across Metro Cebu, daily routines grind to an abrupt halt.
01:57Understanding why outages occur, how to protect sensitive home electronics and electrical surges,
02:04and how to manage the disruption can keep both your appliances and household safe.
02:10Rotational brownouts or manual load dropping occur when regional electricity demand outstrips available power generation.
02:20And when power plants shut down or suffer unexpected outages, operating reserves vanish, prompting the NGCP to declare a red
02:31alert.
02:31To prevent the stabilization system frequencies from triggering a catastrophic grid collapse, especially when inter-island power imports are constrained,
02:43the grid operator orders utilities to shed load, cycling brief, scheduled cuts across feeder lines to share the deficit evenly.
02:53Now, so we would have wanted also to hear some reports also on the ground.
03:01But as of this time, because of the incident, our friends also from VECO are not able to make it
03:09today,
03:09but they promised that they will be here on September 8th to help explain.
03:13But just in case we missed the discussion, and it was also stated in the introduction, there are at least
03:21three players on the chain.
03:24So what we normally see are VECO and MECO.
03:28But before that, there's the transmission part of the chain, and then eventually the generation part of the chain.
03:39And it was at least clear to us when VECO was here, and they effectively explained that much of the
03:45shortage or capacity issue is actually happening in the generation piece.
03:51So if limited maganda nga ito ang power generation or power supply, so kung na yung mga outages, as we
03:57read in the news today, very near capacity naman ta.
04:01So for every outage that happens here, then it would translate to yellow alert, meaning padung na siya ka ng
04:08overcapacity.
04:10And then eventually, kung madungagan pagyod ang outage, then that's when mured na siya, and the providers or utilities will
04:18have no choice but to schedule rotational brownouts.
04:23Now if we look at the situation as an everyday Cebuano, murag sa akong tanaw, murag nagkagrabig yun siya nga
04:29situation, because in the past, issue naman ganin na ito ang katong one hour.
04:33No, yesterday we covered also kanang feedback coming from students, nga lisod yun kayo sa Ilaan, na kanang napay rotational
04:42brownout, and then di pag yun sila makasulod o face-to-face classes.
04:46So even just the one hour rotational brownout has already given kanang discomfort to the general public, especially for a
04:58metropolitan and well-urbanized city such as Cebu.
05:05So issue yun kayo din hiang kanang kakulangan sa power supply.
05:09So karun nga ni-stretch pagyod ni siya to 2.5, murag if akong basaho ni siya, then nagkasamot na
05:17gin ang problema na ito with the shortage.
05:19I also heard certain reports that Governor Pamela Baricuatro has already ordered for the power ecosystem to actually convene so
05:28that we can reach the solution to this problem.
05:32More importantly, kanang makita na gin na ito, dili lang ang kanang masorten ang rotational brownout, but we just have
05:38to go back to katong BAU, nga kanang, which as an urbanized location such as the tri-cities or the
05:46metro cities, no, would, we should have.
05:49Because importante man sa toa ang kanang electricity and power.
05:52In fact, if magsulit na about ang kanang, the air and then the food, food, shelter, clothing, I think data
06:01is part of that, no, information.
06:03And then electricity and water utilities are also essential these days, no.
06:07So I hope that we can reach to the solution of this and we'll do our best to give you
06:12an update come September 8, no.
06:14Because VECO will also join us to help explain and then, and what we need to do moving forward also
06:20as everyday Filipinos, as everyday Cebuanos.
06:23Now, I have here actually certain tips, no, and makita sa din na ito siya sa Sunstar, but kanang, kanang
06:30murag, well, I was actually reading through the tips, murag kanang nasad-sad ko, no, because it brought about katong
06:37mga, mga ideas that we were, that we had to deal with, no, when we were growing up in the
06:44province, no.
06:45And it's just so sad that I'm telling you these tips and this time it's already in an urbanized setting,
06:52no.
06:52But kanang, the same ragihapon niya siya, so for those of us who have not experienced rotational brownouts for a
06:58longer period of time, so maybe this is also a good information.
07:02And for those who have experienced this in the past, then at least kanang, this is a good refresher, no.
07:07So, one of the crucial pieces, man, good, on the technical side that we need to remember, yung sabi makalimut
07:13na taan, no, especially sa kabisi na ito, naagyoy kanang risk every time mo return ang power.
07:19So, that's why, katong mga nadungga na ito sa itong mga lolo o lola, which is to unplug the kanang
07:27heavy and sensitive electronic kanang appliances sa itong balay.
07:32Diri-reguid na kay old-fashioned si lolo o si lola, but they are actually very kanang useful, no, because
07:39ang crucial piece, man, good, on, ipag naay power interruption is the surge, no, of voltage.
07:44What that happens also, or even the fluctuation once they return.
07:48So, as soon as the lights go out, then we have to unplug our sensitive and heavy electronic equipments.
07:56And then, once musiga na po ng suga, dili na ito sila i-diretsyo plug, no, kay excited na kayta
08:02mo gamit, no.
08:03But we also have to observe 5 to 10 minute delay.
08:07And ang reason na na, the same, because once magud mo return ang power, napatay ka ng fluctuation, no, sa
08:13atuang voltage.
08:13So, it is best that we have to delay for 5 to 10 minutes before na ito sila gamitin o
08:19balik.
08:20And for sensitive equipments, we can also have automatic voltage regulators or AVRs para mamanage niya ang fluctuation.
08:30And then, because kanang dagha naman kayo na ito nga nag-work from homesad, and even katong itong mga students,
08:36let's also equip ourselves with UPS, no, para diretsyong mo interrupt ang ito, ma-off ang itong kitrabaho, and then
08:44they're gone, no.
08:45So, mas ma-isad na equip mo na with UPS.
08:47And by the way, kanang, I hope this is useful, kanang ang refrigerator day na ito, if kanang, di lang
08:54gin na ito siya abrihan, no.
08:56So, it can actually effectively preserve contents up to 4 hours.
09:02Kung ang freezer pa na ito, kung di lang na ito siya abrihan, sad, it can also, kanang preserve whatever
09:09is inside, no, for 48 hours.
09:11So, these are helpful tips, no, and for a lot of us, it's a refresher kay Murag Dugay-Dugay na
09:17magintang wala aning situation, no, na Murag, I hope not, no.
09:22Nga ang rotational brownout is beginning to creep into our daily routine, no, na Murag, we are already coping through
09:29this.
09:29And I hope, again, as I stated earlier, I hope that we would arrive to a long-term solution so
09:35that we don't have to go over this type of disruption on a daily basis.
09:40By the way po di ay, and, well, this is also another development, on top of the rotational brownouts, na
09:48po'y kanang scheduled power interruption na mahitabo karong Sunday in several areas in Cebu City and Talisay, no.
09:56So, na ay on top of the rotational brownouts, no.
10:00So, kanang please note of this, no, ang location o ang oras sa interruption.
10:04So, dinhi sa Cebu City, ang portions of Mambaling and the South Reclamation Area along Candido, Padilla Street,
10:15basik na lang pa yung rotation ba na?
10:18Bestail Street, SRP Back Road, and SRP Bypass Road, including SM Seaside and SM Arena,
10:27na ay power interruption from 8 o'clock in the morning until 6 in the evening.
10:34So, more or less the entire daytime, no.
10:37And the work aims to improve the reliability of the distribution system through the installation of line device hardware and
10:48reconstruction of primary lines.
10:51Same duration gihapon, sige, ah, okay, sige, same, kanina or like kanisa, okay, sige, this is what happens when we
11:01have a live kanang reporting, no.
11:03Same time also, 8 o'clock to 6 p.m., so this is like the whole daytime.
11:09A portion of the South Reclamation Area also along Talabong Road, including the CCTO and the Department of Health, will
11:19experience power interruption.
11:21And ang reason, aniniya, it's because the work involves the extension of primary lines to increase distribution capacity.
11:29In Talisay City said, and a portion of Barangay Tangke along Cebu, South Coastal Road, including Cebu South Harbor, will
11:39also be affected from 8 o'clock to 6 p.m.
11:43So, taas-taasan niyang mga power interruption, no.
11:46And the scheduled work involves the reconstruction of primary lines to improve system reliability.
11:53So, Visayan Electric advises the public to take extra precaution when passing through areas where line repairs and maintenance are
12:02being conducted and to stay away from barricaded areas.
12:08Okay, so, napuddiay statement ang Veko, no, niya, kanang, I will read through the statement, no.
12:17So, we understand the inconvenience this situation may cause our customers.
12:24Visayan Electric is coordinating closely with the relevant grid authorities and keep the public informed as the situation develops.
12:34While we continue to do our part in managing demand within our franchise area.
12:39So, this is the statement made by engineer Mark Anthony Quindica, the president and general manager of Visayan Electric.
12:49Visayan Electric confirmed that should manual load dropping or rotational power interruptions, or muna itong itawag na rotational ka ng
12:57brownouts, be mandated by grid authorities,
13:00specific schedule details and affected areas will be released immediately through its official digital channels.
13:08The distribution utility encourages household and commercial establishments to practice voluntary energy conservation during peak alert hours to help ease
13:22pressure on the regional power grid.
13:26So, if we actually read more closely between the lines, no, kanang, ang issue yun na to karun, although we
13:34are faced with MECO and Veko,
13:37kaya sila man yun ang very close to us consumers, but ang main issue, as far as we know, is
13:43really on the power generation side.
13:46Namotong nag-issue ang kanang Veko statement, because they are also doing their best to work with national grid and
13:53our power generators,
13:55so that kung naamanggani yung mga changes that could impact rotational brownouts, they would be able to inform us ahead
14:03of time.
14:04By the way, sa katong kwansad, sa katong mga nag-atang, no, kay supposedly today is our episode on Daniel
14:12Cabrera, no, katong bata nga nag-study outside McDonald's sometime in 2015,
14:18na move po lang yung interview on September 11, so that's Friday next week, so at least doha ka-interview
14:25ang ato ang atangan for next week, no.
14:28Veko will issue their final official statement to help us understand the situation on September 8, that's Tuesday,
14:36and then ang interview ni Daniel Cabrera, katong bata nga sa McDonald's nga nai-viral siya at last 2015, will
14:45also be on September 11 next week, which is Friday.
14:50So now, the question, as I've mentioned earlier, we go back to power interruption, is not simply when the power
14:57will return, no,
14:58kusaya mga tawa na lang, takay kung ang haze pa suddun ta sa balay, niya nag-brand outside, pag-ausun
15:03sad ta, so asa magintaan eh, no.
15:06So, importante yun na, not only should we know when the power will return, but how we can also build
15:12a power system that is more reliable,
15:16more resilient, and better prepared for the demands of the future.
15:21Because electricity is no longer a luxury, it is a basic necessity, and keeping the lights on is a responsibility
15:32we all share.
15:34So, kung pangutan on ta ka roon, o lights on or lights off, ang tubag yun na to, lights on.
15:40So, I'm DJ Moisa, shout out to Coffee First for supporting conversations that matter.
15:45This is Beyond the Headlines, let's continue to look deeper and think better.
15:50Happy Friday!
16:10The perfect latte is not brushed, it is crafted, one cup at a time.
16:18Your perfect latte is ready!
16:20Coffee first, then everything else!
16:43Next time's hot!
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