Visayas Grid Red and Yellow Alerts on October 20 (Tue) — 25 Power Plants Shut Down Due to Failures

Visayas Grid Red and Yellow Alerts on October 20 (Tue) — 25 Power Plants Shut Down Due to Failures

📌 On Tuesday, October 20, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a red alert from 5 to 6 p.m. and yellow alerts from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. for the Visayas grid. With expected peak demand at 2,545 MW and available supply capacity at only 2,468 MW, power supply in the Visayas region, including Cebu, Bohol, and Boracay, was stretched thin.

■ What's Changing
· A red alert is issued when supply cannot meet consumer demand and the grid's operating reserve, while a yellow alert is issued when the operating reserve falls below the grid's emergency reserve level.
· 25 power plants went offline due to failures, and 22 others ran at reduced output, together failing to deliver 685 MW to the grid.
· Large coal-fired plants in the Visayas, PEDC Unit 3 and KSPC Unit 1, were shut down, and power imported from Mindanao also declined due to scheduled maintenance at some Mindanao plants.
· The reports did not say whether rotating power outages were implemented.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· If you are staying in the Visayas, check power interruption notices from your local distribution utility during the alert hours (3 to 8 p.m.) and charge your power bank ahead of time.
· When choosing accommodation, check whether it has a backup generator, which can help during outages.

■ Sources
GMA News (10/20), The Manila Times (10/20)

■ Photos
· Stock photo · Transmission towers and lines — GMA News