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Rolling blackouts begin anew
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Posted on May 19 2006
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. began implementing yesterday an emergency power load shedding on Saipan due to continuing mechanical problems at Power Plant 1.
In a public announcement, CUC said necessary repairs of equipment are ongoing. It appealed for everyone’s patience and understanding.
CUC said that from 2pm to 4pm, affected areas include from Gualo Rai traffic light northward toward Sugar King Monument, part of China Town, and As Falipe area.
From 4pm to 6pm, affected areas cover Lower Base, Capitol Hill, As Teo, Kagman I, II, and III, and Papago.
From 6pm to 8pm, the entire Feeder 7 is affected. The areas include Lower Base, Tanapag, San Roque, As Matuis, and Marpi.
CUC said there will also be optional shedding at second partial of Kiya 2, which will be from 8pm to 10pm. The areas affected are WSR Elementary School, Tun Doi, Fina Sisu, part of As Perido and Chalan Piao.
CUC said the feeder may be taken out of the grid if necessary depending on the status of the problems and the power load demand.
“This temporary emergency load shedding shall remain in effect until further notice,” the utility agency said.
Early this week, Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez said the brownouts that Saipan has been experiencing are indications of more coming power outages unless CUC can immediately fix the problem with its engines.
Asked about the recent brownouts that hit the island, Villagomez on Monday said he had made it known about the importance of resolving the CUC engines issue.
“We don’t have a generation backup that CUC should have in placed. And this is just a sign of what’s forthcoming,” he pointed out.
Villagomez said with the peak load on Saipan averaging at approximately 64-65 megawatt, CUC is in an uncertain situation with practically no reserve capacity.
In his recent State of the CUC Special Report, Villagomez warned that a forced outage at any of its engines would cause CUC to immediately implement load shedding, or worse, cause an island-wide blackout at any given moment. (Ferdie de la Torre)
