DAVAO CITY — In an effort to ensure reliable power distribution, the Davao Light and Power Company established a new unit to ensure that the power company can easily repond to a given situation by estavlishing a System Operations Department (SOD).
Through the System Operations Department (SOD), the power firm will easily determine the causes of the power interruptions “For us to immediately respond and send our linemen and resolve the concern the soonest time possible,” explained Engineer Virmel Dabon, the SOD chief said.
Dabon said they have installed Graphic User Interface (GUI), a device connected to a wide screen which shows the real-time data across the different substations and line device equipment in the franchise areas of Davao Light, to ensure that the causes of these power interruptions are identified so the linemen can resolve them the soonest time possible.
Among the causes of power intrruptions include strong winds, animals, vegetation, or the falling of trees which touch the power lines .
The people behind the department are the System Operations and SCADA Engineers. On the one hand, the System Operations Engineers monitor the delivery of quality power and ensure that widespread power interruptions are restored as soon as possible.
The SOD engineers routinely undergo a simulation exercises called load studies, which establish contingency plans as to where the loads will be transfered in the event of an unpplanned or unscheduled power interruption. They also obtain electrical data such as the voltage, current, and power status of Davao Light. In addition, the System Operation Engineers conduct tabletop and actual simulation exercises to ensure their preparedness and readiness during power outages.
This was made possible because of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system currently employed in the private utility company. With SCADA, engineers can now remotely collect and process data coming from the different franchise areas of Davao Light using fiber optic lines and microwave wireless systems as communication links, which makes communication between different remote devices easier and more efficient.
On the other hand, the SCADA engineers operate and maintain the system. The SCADA system is a vital tool in remotely monitoring and controlling line devices and substation equipment. This enables engineers to make smarter and faster decisions when it comes to transferring the load from one power source to another, enabling faster restoration of power during outages.
The SCADA system has been utilized by the private utility company since 1996. It evolved technologically over time, in line with the vision of Davao Light to be a world-class electric utility.
“As the Aboitiz Group gears toward its GT2025 goals to become the Philippines’ first techglomerate, the System Operations Department will continue to improve its operations through a more advanced Automated Distribution Management System (ADMS) which will pinpoint the cause of power interruptions on a surgical level,” Engr. Dabon shared the department’s plans for the future.
Davao Light gives rise to solutions that pave the way for the development of the communities in its franchise area by providing better service to its customers through the advancement of its technologies.-PR
