National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said over the weekend it energized the P10.2-billion Hermosa-San Jose transmission line over the weekend.
NGCP said the line was energized at 7:22 a.m. on May 27 to further improve the reliability of the Luzon transmission backbone.
The project, which spans the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan, will strengthen transmission services and accommodate new bulk power generation from the Bataan area.
“The Hermosa-San Jose 500kV project is a major component in our planned Luzon 500kV transmission backbone. Despite many challenges, our teams worked 24/7 to complete this facility. With the energization of the line comes the improved transmission from generation sources towards the load center Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” said NGCP.
The project also includes the construction of a new Hermosa 500kV substation, which will enable better voltage regulation and power transfer from existing 230kV facilities in the area.
The project was provisionally approved by the ERC with a cost of P10.2 billion. The ERC has only allowed the partial recovery of P19 million or less than one percent of the actual project cost, the company said.
NGCP said that given the urgent need to widen the transmission highway along the Bataan corridor, the company implemented the HSJ line and set aside the issue on recovery approvals from the ERC at a later time.
“Our priority has and will always be doing what is best for the public. Financial considerations can take a back seat and be threshed out later,” said NGCP major shareholder Henry Sy Jr., a former president and chief executive of the company.
“We hope to correct the impression that the consumers are somehow shortchanged with how rates are computed. Our commitment has never wavered: we serve the public, and we work within the legal and regulatory framework of our concession and franchise,” Sy said.
NGCP said is also slated to complete other critical projects in Visayas and Mindanao in the coming months.
“Our stakeholders can be assured that we will continue our grid improvement, expansion, and reinforcement initiatives to deliver quality and reliable transmission services,” said NGCP.