Surigao Sur power utility implements load dropping amid rising demand
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — Residents in the first district of Surigao del Sur may experience scheduled power interruptions as the Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II (SURSECO II) implemented manual load dropping to manage the province’s power supply.
SURSECO II announced the measure during its Press Briefing and Power Forum on August 12, following a series of power interruptions in the district. The SURSECO II official said that electricity demand has increased due to the continuing hot weather associated with the El NiΓ±o phenomenon and the ongoing rice harvest season, which has increased the use of farm machinery and rice mills.
SURSECO II Communication and Training Analyst Edilberto C. Sereno Jr. said, “The cooperative is implementing several immediate measures to prevent the power system from becoming overloaded while longer-term infrastructure projects are underway. These include substation cooling, feeder rebalancing, coordination with industrial consumers, voltage correction, and active monitoring of loads.”
“For a longer-term solution, SURSECO II expects a rental mobile power transformer to become operational by September 2026. The unit will augment the existing 10MVA Tandag substation, while the new 15MVA substation is being constructed,” he added. “Once completed, the new facility is expected to provide additional capacity for the growing power needs of Tandag City, San Miguel, Tago, and Cortes.”
Sereno told the forum’s attendees that construction of the new 5MVA Tago substation is also progressing. “The facility is expected to help reduce the load on the Cagwait substation and address low-voltage concerns, particularly in San Miguel, a major rice-milling area in the province.”
SURSECO II urged member-consumer-owners to cooperate by taking note of the scheduled load dropping and managing their electricity use, particularly during peak demand periods.
The cooperative’s official underscored that the measures are intended to maintain system stability while major infrastructure projects are ongoing, which will ultimately provide consumers with safer, more reliable, and more efficient electricity service. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
