BACOLOD CITY, July 6 — About 50 percent of the coverage area of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), including this city, suffered a brownout for at least an hour following the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Visayas region Thursday afternoon.
Engineer Leomel Tambanillo, manager of Ceneco Corporate Planning Department, said the earthquake affected submarine cables between Leyte and Cebu, causing the shutdown of geothermal power plants in Leyte.
“There is now an oversupply of power in Negros since generators in the region and neighboring Panay Island can no longer transmit power to Cebu,” Tambanillo said.
He added that oversupply caused the tripping off of the three Ceneco substations in Bacolod.
As of 6:00 p.m., five feeders of its Alijis, Reclamation and Mabini substations were already energized.
Jose Maria Vargas, head of the City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office, said they have not monitored damage caused by earthquake in Bacolod.
According to the NGCP report, the earthquake that shook Jaro, Leyte at 4:03 p.m. caused a blackout in Leyte, Samar, and Bohol islands.
“Panay, Negros and Cebu islands experienced power interruptions but are now fully restored,” it said in an advisory released at 6:00 p.m.
The NGCP said it is still assessing the extent of the damage to its transmission facilities in the Visayas region.
In Negros Occidental, Intensity IV was reported in Sagay City; Intensity III in Bacolod City and Calatrava town; and Intensity I in La Carlota City. (Erwin P. Nicavera/PNA) #LindolSaLeyte
