The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is appealing to the local officials of San Simon in Pampanga to lift the closure order it issued against NGCP’s San Simon 230-kiloVolt (kV) Substation construction site, lest consumers face looming transmission service reliability issues.
According to the NGCP, the closure order dated September 9, 2022 signed by Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. was premised on the allegation that construction of the said substation was being undertaken without the necessary permits required by the local government of San Simon.
However, the NGCP said it presented to the LGU a copy of the building permit it issued for the project last year, June 1, 2021, before project implementation.
“We share the common goal of delivering efficient and reliable services to the Filipino people,” the company appealed, asking the LGU to allow NGCP to continue with this grid improvement initiative.
To date, the closure order remains in effect, necessitating the stoppage of critical construction activities.
The San Simon 230kV Substation Project is certified as an Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS) by the Department of Energy in 2019. The project aims to reinforce the reliability and stability of power transmission services in the Luzon grid, by serving as alternate source for customers connected to the existing Mexico Substation.
“Without this substation, the reliability of transmission services in the Pampanga area is threatened, and power interruptions are a real possibility,” NGCP said.
NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy, Jr. and Co-Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr. It is the sole operating asset of Synergy Grid and Development Philippines, Inc.
