MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has energized the rehabilitated 25/30 megavolt amperes (MVA) Molo substation in Iloilo City last Sunday.
The company said in a statement on Monday the P60.6- million project that started in July 2023 modernizes the city’s power infrastructure. It involved the replacement of outdated and unreliable equipment, including the control system, switchyard and other important devices, to make the substation more reliable and automated.
“The Molo substation had been in operation for 23 years without proper maintenance, leading to frequent equipment malfunctions,” said Roel Castro, MORE Power president and chief executive officer.
“This upgrade is essential not only to meet the increasing demand for electricity due to population growth and commercial expansion in the area but also extends the life of the transformer and improves its performance using advanced technology to ensure stable and efficient power distribution,” Castro added.
MORE Power said while the Molo substation was being upgraded by the contractor EEI Power Corp., a 30/36 MVA mobile substation was set up to provide temporary power to keep the electricity supply running smoothly.
The company said the rehabilitation of the substation includes a reconfigured in-out system, which significantly reduces the risk of outages, especially during peak demand that allows for flexibility, enabling power to be easily rerouted through the SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system if a transmission line segment encounters a fault.
“MORE Power’s SCADA implementation is notable as the first distribution utility in Panay and one of the few in the Philippines, setting a benchmark for modern power management,” said Armil Logarta, MORE Power project management and development head.
“As a result, any power interruption will be minimized, greatly enhancing service reliability for both residential and commercial customers. The integration of this modern substation into Iloilo City’s power system also allows for smarter load management, ensuring that MORE Power can swiftly respond to fluctuations in demand,” Logarta added.
MORE Power said with the Molo substation fully operational, the mobile substation will now be relocated to the Mandurriao substation to temporarily provide power while it undergoes its own rehabilitation starting this month.
The company said as part of its five-year development plan, a substantial load from the Molo substation will be transferred to the new Arevalo substation early next year to enhance power distribution and allow better management and quick response time.
