MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is seeking clearance to spend P60 million to replace a defective transformer in its Urdaneta substation to prevent massive power interruption in Makati City.

Meralco filed an application with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for an emergency capital expenditure of P60.27 million to replace a power transformer in Urdaneta substation.

Meralco needs to apply for ERC approval since the said project is not covered by the capital expenditure application it applied previously.

The cost will cover the replacement of the defective power transformer with a new 83 MVA power transformer “in order to avert the prolonged and widespread power interruptions that would affect customers in the cities of Makati and Taguig.”

The replacement was needed after the affected transformer tripped due to fire in August 2017. Tests showed the transformer was no longer safe to be energized.

Meralco transferred the load to an adjacent power transformer bank which is now operating above critical level at 73 percent.

“The critical loading of the power transformer may result to an outage and prolonged and massive interruption in the affected areas,” it said,

Meralco said customers that will be adversely affected include Enderun Colleges and Bonifacio Water Corp., among others, in Taguig City.

Supply will also be adversely affected to major businesses and establishments like Ayala Land Inc., Citi Tower Condominium Corp., Citi Center Condominium Corp., PLDT Inc. The World Centre Condominium, Makati Shangrila Hotel, Department of Trade and Industry and Asian Institute of Management in Makati.

This article first appeared on www.PhilStar.com