Evening brownouts cancelled

MANILA, Philippines - Several power plants in Luzon bogged down, forcing the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to implement another round of rotational blackouts in Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Saturday.

Meralco had announced early Saturday that one-hour rotating blackouts would take place from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday.

The power plant troubles forced the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to raise the red alert status.

The alert status, however, was lowered to yellow from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. after the Limay 2A and the Sual 1 power plants were put back online around 11 a.m..

"Tentative schedule of MLD [Manual Load Dropping] during evening peak was cancelled," the Meralco said in its 2 p.m. advisory.

This means the rotating brownouts for the evening have been cancelled.

Meralco said Limay 2A was put back on line at 2:42 p.m,

The Meralco said one of the reasons for the blackouts was the total shutdown of the Malaya plants 1 and 2, which produce 650 megawatts, due to "unavailability of fuel."

The other reasons were the shutdown of the Sta. Rita Module 30 at 12:53 a.m. due to a scheduled inspection of the combustion chamber (which was expected to wrap up on Sunday); the tripping out of Sual 1 due to boiler feed pump trouble; and, the limited capability of hydro-power plants due to low water elevation in dams around Luzon.

Water levels in dams around Luzon have steadily gone down to critical levels due to the dry spell.

Power supply reserves in Luzon have been thin as demand shoots up due to the hot weather, while some power plants have broken down.

Meanwhile, Mindanao has also been reeling from a severe power shortage due to the ongoing dry spell. Malacañang has placed the southern island under a state of calamity.

Areas that would be affected by the rotating blackouts are:
 
(10 a.m. to 11 a.m.)

BATANGAS
Sto. Tomas

BULACAN
San Ildefonso, San Rafael

CAVITE
Alfonso, Amadeo, Indang, Mendez- Muños, Silang, Tagaytay, Gen. Emilio. Aguinaldo, Bacoor

LAGUNA
Alaminos, Cabuyao, CAlauan, San Pablo City, Calamba City

CALOOCAN
Dagat-dagatan

NAVOTAS
Dagat-dagatan

LAS PIÑAS
Almanza, Pamplona,.Talon, Pilar

MUNTINLUPA
Tunasan

PARAÑAQUE
Baclaran, Tambo

PASIG
Dela Paz, Santolan

MALABON
Dagat-dagatan, Tonsuya, Lombos , Catmon, Tugatog

MANILA
Ermita, Malate

QUEZON CITY
Bagong Pag-Asa, Ramon Magsaysay, Balintawak, Bungad, Veterans Village, Project 7 & 8, Katipunan and San Francisco del Monte

QUEZON PROVINCE
Mauban, Sampaloc and Tayabas

(11 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

BULACAN
Angat, Bocaue, San Jose del Monte & Sta. Maria

LAS PIÑAS
Barangays BF Int’l Vill, Manuyo II, Pamplona III, Pulang Lupa II, Talon 1 & 2

MANDALUYONG
Barangays Addition Hills, Bagong Silang, Daang Bakal, Hagdang Bato Libis, Harapin ang Bukas and Pag-Asa

MANILA
Ermita, Sampaloc, Sta. Ana and Sta. Mesa

MUNTINLUPA
Barangays Alabang, Bayanan, Buli, Cupang, Muntinlupa, Poblacion, Putatan, Sucat and Tunasan

QUEZON CITY
Cubao, Kamuning, Katipunan, Kaunlaran, Project 4, La loma, Mabuhay, Murphy, New Manila, Pres. Quirino, San Francisco del Monte

SAN JUAN
Barangays Addition hills, Batis, Greenhills, Kabayanan, Little Baguio, Maytunas, Onse, Salapan, San Perfecto, Sta. Lucia and Tibagan

PARAÑAQUE
Barangays San Dionisio and San Isidro

(1 p.m. to 2 p.m.)

BATANGAS
Batangas City

CAVITE
Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus, Tanza, Trece Martirez City,

LAGUNA
Bay

CALOOCAN
Barnagays Bagong barrio, Grace Park, Sta. Quiteria, Talipapa

MALABON
Portrero

MANDALUYONG
Barangays Highway hills, Pleasant Hills, Wack-wack Greenhills East

MARIKINA
Barangays Barangka, Concepcion 1, Jesus Dela Peña, Nangka, Sto Niño, Tañong

CAVITE
Alfonso, Amadeo, Dasmariñas, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Naic, Silang, Ternate,

Meralco is minority owned by the power arm of the Lopez Group of Companies. ABS-CBN Broadcasting is part of the Lopez Group of Companies, with abs-cbnNEWS.com as its online news arm.