BENECO to commission two new transformers

The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) will commission two 10 megavolt ampere (MVA) transformers next month in a bid to further improve power reliability within its franchise area.

The first 10 MVA transformer at the Lamut substation in Beckel, La Trinidad was energized on August 28 while the other 10 MVA transformer at Sinipsip, Buguias was energized on Sept. 4.

Substations are part of the electric distribution system that transform or convert electricity from high voltage to lower voltage so that the electricity can be connected to the distribution lines en route to supplying power to consumers at the desired voltage.

The Lamut substation was connected to the 69 kilovolt (kv) lines of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) while the Sinipsip substation was actually relocated fom Irisan, Baguio City some years back.

Both substations have been energized but they must undergo a 15 day observation period before they will be fully commissioned, meaning to become officially connected to the distribution system of the electric cooperative, said Joaquin Calawen, system control and protection supervisor.

"The commissioning of the two substations will improve power reliability and will enable Beneco to supply the load demand of businesses and establishments in the future,." Calawen said.

The two substations are expected to ease the power loads of the substations at North Sanitary Camp in Baguio City and at Atok, Benguet. The Lamut facility will decongest power demand from Lamut to Shilan and to Beckel in La Trinidad until Ambuklao in Bokod.

The Sinipsip transformer, meanwhile will solve the occurrence of low voltags within the areas supplied by the Mankayan and Atok substations. The project was also intended to accomplish Beneco's target to standardize its system voltage to 23 kv.

"Basesd on engineering studies, a 23 kv distribution is the most appropriate and reliable," Calawen said.

Beneco has six substations at present. They are located at North Sanitary Camp, Baguio City with two 50 MVA transformers; Lamut in Beckel, La Trinidad with 10 MVA and 20 MVA transformers; Irisan, Baguio City with 20 MVA; Sinipsip, Buguias with 10 MVA; Topdac, Atok with 5 MVA and Bulalacao, Manakayan with 3.75 MVA or for a total of 168.75 MVA capacity.

BENECO's average demand was 83 MVA prior to the pandemic.