Negros Power Enhances Service Reliability With Automatic Circuit Reclosers (ACRs)
Negros Power is taking a significant step to improve the stability and reliability of its power distribution system through the installation of Automatic Circuit Reclosers (ACRs). This advanced technology aims to minimize power outages, providing a more reliable electricity supply for residents across Negros Occidental.
Understanding the Role of ACRs
An Automatic Circuit Recloser (ACR) is an intelligent device designed to automatically detect temporary faults in the power system and restore electricity almost immediately. When minor issues such as tree branches or small animals come into contact with power lines, they can cause momentary interruptions. ACRs sense these faults and disconnect the power for a short time, preventing prolonged outages. If the fault clears up quickly, the ACR restores power within seconds, reducing the impact on consumers.
This modern approach replaces the traditional method of manually tracing and repairing faults, which often leads to longer power interruptions. With ACRs, Negros Power can ensure faster restoration times and fewer outages affecting large numbers of customers.
ACRs in Action: Reducing Power Interruptions
Many of the power interruptions experienced in Bacolod City and Central Negros are caused by minor issues, such as wind or rain moving branches into power lines, or animals like lizards and geckos making contact with the wires. In the past, addressing these faults required manual intervention, resulting in extended periods without power. However, with ACRs, power can be restored automatically without the need for a repair crew to locate and fix the problem immediately.
Negros Power has already begun installing ACRs in key areas across its distribution network. Of the 40 ACR units ordered, eight have already been delivered and installed in various feeders. Each ACR costs between P600,000 and P700,000, and these devices are part of Negros Power’s five-year development plan, which involves a P2.1 billion investment aimed at modernizing the electrical distribution system.
Benefits of Sectionalizing Power Lines
One of the key benefits of ACRs is the ability to sectionalize long power lines. In many cases, thousands of consumers are connected to a single feeder. A fault in any section of that feeder can result in a power outage affecting all connected customers. With the installation of ACRs, these long lines can be divided into smaller sections. When a fault occurs in one section, only that portion of the feeder experiences a power outage, while the rest remains unaffected. For example, in Talisay Feeder 3, which serves 8,547 customers, the installation of ACRs has reduced the number of affected customers to just 1,197 during an outage.
This targeted approach not only limits the number of customers affected by an outage but also allows for faster restoration of power in unaffected sections. As Negros Power continues to install ACRs across its coverage area, more consumers will benefit from this increased reliability.
What Consumers Can Expect
The introduction of ACRs may cause brief power interruptions, usually lasting about five seconds. This is a normal part of the process as the ACR works to detect and resolve temporary faults. If the problem persists after an initial power restoration, the ACR will shut off the system for a slightly longer period (about 80 seconds) before attempting to restore power again. If the fault continues, manual intervention will be required, and the system will remain off until the issue is resolved.
Despite these brief interruptions, the overall impact of ACRs will be a significant reduction in the duration and frequency of unscheduled power outages. Consumers can expect a more stable and reliable power supply as these installations are completed.
Looking Ahead: A Commitment to Modernization
Negros Power’s installation of ACRs is just one part of its broader commitment to upgrading and modernizing the power distribution network in Negros Occidental. Over the next five years, the company plans to rehabilitate and standardize its entire system, with modernization and expansion efforts taking place in the final stages of the plan. This proactive approach aims to address current system inefficiencies and ensure a more dependable power supply for the growing needs of the region.
The installation of 40 ACRs is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025, with more units arriving throughout the remainder of the year. As these advancements are implemented, Negros Power will continue to prioritize the needs of its consumers, minimizing power interruptions and improving service quality across its franchise area.
In conclusion, Negros Power’s investment in ACR technology marks a significant improvement in the way power outages are managed. By reducing the number of affected customers during outages and restoring power more quickly, Negros Power is ensuring a more reliable and efficient electricity service for the residents of Negros Occidental.
