Overview: Visayas Grid Returns to Normal After Magnitude 6.9 Quake
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reports that power transmission services across the Visayas Grid are back to normal following the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu province. After days of focused restoration work, the grid has been energized along critical lines, ensuring stability and reliability for affected customers and distribution utilities.
Key Restoration Milestones
As of 9:38 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, NGCP energized the Daanbantayan-Tabango 230kV Line 2, the submarine cable that links Cebu and Leyte. The activation marks a significant step in restoring the transmission backbone disrupted by the earthquake, which also damaged facilities at the Daanbantayan Substation near the quake epicenter.
NGCP crews deployed more than 60 personnel to accelerate restoration work. The company stated that power transmission services in the Visayas were normalized as early as Wednesday, Oct. 1—even while repairs on other lines were still underway. The rapid recovery underscores NGCP’s commitment to stabilizing the grid in response to natural disasters and maintaining service continuity for customers across the region.
Further Restorations and Parallel Operations
Equally important to the network’s resilience, the Compostela-Daanbantayan 230kV Line 1 was energized on Oct. 7 at 2:18 a.m. and is now operating in parallel with the earlier restored Line 2. These lines provide an important n-1 contingency to the backbone transmission corridor that has already been restored, enhancing the overall reliability of the system and reducing the risk of outages for power customers.
Restoration efforts continue for the remaining line under outage, the Daanbantayan-Tabango 230kV Line 1. NGCP emphasizes that completing these lines strengthens the transmission network’s redundancy and supports rapid post-disaster recovery for any future contingencies.
What This Means for the Public
NGCP reiterated that the restoration work is essential to maintain a stable and resilient grid in Visayas. While the lines are being brought back online in stages, the completed and parallel-operated circuits offer robust contingency against further disruptions. The company also advised the public to coordinate with their distribution utilities and electric cooperatives for any localized power interruptions that might occur during ongoing repairs.
Looking ahead, NGCP will continue to monitor the situation and remains on alert for aftershocks. The company’s on-ground teams will persist with restoration and repair efforts to bolster the reliability of the transmission network and prevent prolonged service interruptions for consumers across the Visayas.
Conclusion
The successful energization of major 230kV lines marks a milestone in the Visayas grid’s recovery from the Cebu earthquake. By restoring critical transmission pathways and maintaining vigilant monitoring, NGCP aims to ensure long-term grid stability and support a swift return to normal operations for customers, utilities, and businesses across the region.
