NEA: 92 areas gain back power, 70 still up for restoration

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With over P 200 million in recorded total damage costs, 70 cities and municipalities affected by Typhoon Ompong are still for rehabilitation while 92 areas have regained partial power according to the latest data from the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

NEA’s data showed the total estimated damage cost amounted to P208.74 million as of yesterday, with Cagayan having the highest recorded cost of damage at P110.83 million.

Abra follows at P 20 million and Benguet at P 19.23 million.

The National Power Corp. (Napocor) said it has successfully restored power in its Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) power plants that were affected by the typhoon.

Power plants in Batanes (Sabtang, Itbayat and Basco Diesel Power Plants), Cagayan (Calayan, Balatubat and Minabel DPPs), Isabela (Palanan DPP and Maconacon mini-grid) and Aurora (Casiguran DPP) are now fully functional.

However, Napocor’s Kabugao DPP in Apayao is still waiting for line restoration.

“During typhoons or natural disaster, our protocol demands us to shut down power plants in order to protect our generating sets from mechanical stress that can be caused by distribution line disturbances,” Napocor President and CEO Pio Benavidez said.

Napocor said they are coordinating with electric cooperatives and/or distribution utilities in order to bring back power after clearing operations.