BENECO welcomes arrival of power transformer for swift power restoration
BAGUIO CITY — In a significant development, the eagerly awaited 10 MVA substation power transformer, leased from the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO) by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO), has arrived at Bulalacao, Mankayan promptly at 6 PM on June 9, 2023.
In a statement, BENECO said the arrival of this transformer marks a crucial step forward in the efforts to restore electricity in Mankayan, as well as parts of Buguias and Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, which have been grappling with prolonged power outages.
A team comprising of three dedicated hotline and maintenance personnel from BENECO, along with the assistance of 14 trucker Ohmnitek personnel, will oversee the various tasks involved, to ensure a seamless installation process.
These tasks include hauling, transport, rigging, and spotting of the transformer in Mankayan, as well as the assembly of disassembled parts, oil filling and recycling, performance of electrical tests, turnover of the power transformer, housekeeping, demobilization, and ultimately, the restoration of power.
Furthermore, the BENECO team will undertake the necessary configuration of the primary lines connected to the Bulalacao Substation, an integral step in optimizing the functionality of the power infrastructure.
Photos and video by Laarni S. Ilagan (BENECO)
With the arrival of the leased transformer and the diligent efforts of the BENECO team, hopes are high for the swift recovery of electricity supply in the affected areas, bringing much-needed relief to residents and businesses alike.
According to BENECO engineer Amy Lyn Timpac, “A substation power transformer is not like your ordinary and much smaller transformer you see hanging on BENECO posts. A distribution utility like BENECO cannot just buy a spare like a spare tire.”
“There are a lot of important considerations to consider: aside from just putting millions on stand-by that the co-op can use instead to fund equally important projects is imprudent. Furthermore, storing an equipment this huge and equally as expensive is technically unsound because over the years while in storage, its insulation will deteriorate and vulnerable to moisture, worse water can leak inside rendering it useless and the several millions spent for its acquisition is wasted,” Timpac added.
BENECO had also taken the initiative last year to redirect a portion of its load to the newly commissioned Sinipsip Substation in Buguias.
“We cannot stock a specific rating of a substation power transformer because upgrading in a distribution utility is constant. Innovation and upgrading is fast, what is applicable today, will not be applicable tomorrow. The rating of a transformer to be purchased will depend on the growth of the demand of the community served,” Timpac said.