More Power, Iloilo City’s power distributor, recently energized its ten-megavolt ampere mobile substation at Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district.
With a capacity of six to eight megawatts, the mobile substation is expected to contribute to the improvement of the city’s power sector, according to More Power Chairman and President Enrique Razon, Jr.
More Power, which took over from Panay Electric Company (PECO) as the city’s power utility, added that the mobile substation would prevent overloading in its Mandurriao substation and is expected to reduce its performance to a safer 70% capacity.
The Mandurriao substation, as well as the company’s four other substations, went on preventive maintenance last October to spare them from working at critical levels reaching 90-95% of capacity. The maintenance works then led to a long brownout, which was criticized by consumers.
Razon also noted that the powering of the mobile station is the company’s first major move towards doubling Iloilo City’s power capacity in the next five years.
Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, meanwhile, lauded the inauguration of the mobile station, while assuring More Power of its support in its endeavors.
More Power was granted a 25-year legislative franchise to become Iloilo City’s sole electric utility via Republic Act 11212 on February 14, 2019 after PECO’s franchise expired a month earlier. PECO, which has been operating since 1923, has gained the ire of customers for its high electricity rates.
Photo from Iloilo Today website.