The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) recently conducted its Annual Blackout Drills across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, reinforcing its commitment to grid reliability and emergency preparedness amid large-scale power outages.

With the theme “Blackout Readiness: Strengthening Response Capabilities,” the drills involved tabletop discussions and practical simulations designed to assess and enhance coordination among all major power stakeholders.

“Through these drills, NGCP can evaluate communication protocols, assess response times, and strengthen coordination efforts. We are able to identify weaknesses, if any, and address them proactively, in coordination with our partner stakeholders,” NGCP said.

Tabletop sessions covered black start services, actual restoration experiences, blackout restoration guidelines and procedures, as well as breakout workshops focusing on area-specific blackout restoration highways. These were followed by simulation exercises that replicated real blackout scenarios.

The activity gathered key representatives from the generation and distribution sectors, the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), National Power Corporation (NPC), National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC), Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), Philippine Independent Power Producers Association Inc. (PIPPA), and National Electrification Administration (NEA).

What improvements or innovations would you like to see in blackout preparedness efforts? Share your thoughts and join the conversation on grid resiliency. 

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