Bacolod: The Negros Electric and Power Corp. is set to invest PHP192 million for the acquisition of a 37.5 megavolt amperes (MVA) mobile substation, marking a significant phase in the initial three years of its five-year development strategy in central Negros.

According to Philippines News Agency, Roel Castro, the president and chief executive officer of Negros Power, announced during a press briefing on Wednesday, which coincided with their first year of operation, that the company aims to procure the mobile substation by May of the coming year. The mobile substation is intended to temporarily serve customers while permanent substations undergo maintenance, thereby supporting growth in the region.

In addition to the mobile substation, the company is also focusing on other infrastructure upgrades. This September, Negros Power plans to complete the Mountain View Substation upgrade with an investment of PHP25 million. By November, the company is targeting the transfer of the Mountain View 12MVA to the Murcia Substation, which will require a budget of PHP10 million. Castro emphasized that the first three years are dedicated to rehabilitation and catching up, with expectations of reaching their goals by the third year.

Since last year, Negros Power has completed significant projects, including meter replacement, installation of elevated metering centers, and the rehabilitation of major substations such as Alijis and Reclamation. Infrastructure improvements have also been a focus, with pole replacements, intermediate installations, and line rehabilitation being part of the efforts to implement distribution utility best practices.

Looking ahead, Castro noted that the company plans to advance its system in the next two years to ensure it is ahead by the end of the five-year plan. This phase includes the introduction of a supervisory control and data acquisition system for real-time monitoring, the establishment of three additional substations, expansion of lines, increased capacity, and continuous enhancements in system reliability and capacity.

Incorporating the Sitio Electrification Program, Negros Power has already invested over PHP1.2 billion from its PHP2.1 billion budget to execute the comprehensive five-year plan. The company is responsible for distributing power supply to the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, and Silay, along with the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.