Power networks/Philippines
This page aims to coordinate the efforts of mapping electricity-related objects in the Philippines. It is intended to be a guide for mapping power lines from aerial imagery and on-the-ground observation.
The transmission network in the Philippines uses a mix of lattice towers and steel, concrete or wood poles, the latter common on power lines placed along road or railroad rights of way in urban areas and on lines where most of their portions have lower clearance between the ground, buildings, and vegetation and the line. Voltages used are:
- 115 kV: Used in parts of Ilocos for transmission. Generally used for sub-transmission (see below)
- 138 kV: Main transmission voltage in Visayas and Mindanao. Usually single-conductor, some double-bundle
- 230 kV: Main transmission voltage in Luzon, and bulk transmission voltage in Visayas and Mindanao. Now mostly using double-bundle conductor
- 500 kV: Bulk transmission voltage in Luzon, using quadruple-bundle conductors.
The number of transmission structures in the Philippines (towers and poles) are approximately 27,473 structures and number may be increased as more structures are constructed.
In between the transmission and distribution networks is the sub-transmission network, operating at either 69 kV or 115 kV. Lines are usually mounted on steel, concrete or wood poles, and feed onto distribution substations and large industrial customers.
Distribution networks operate at 2.4/4.16 kV, 7.62/13.2 and 8/13.8, 13.2/23 and 20/34.5 kV, but the most common is 7.62/13.2 kV. Lines usually have one to three conductors strung on poles, and usually has a neutral line; six or more wires usually occur on lines carrying multiple circuits from a substation. The distribution voltages are stepped down to 230 V single-phase for household consumption; commercial and light industrial users are generally supplied at 127/220 or 254/440 V three-phase.
Networks
The Philippine power grid is divided into transmission, sub-transmission, and distribution sectors. The grid frequency is at 60 Hz, the same as with North America, Taiwan and west Japan, but different from most of Southeast Asia which uses 50 Hz.
The transmission grid consists of 500 kV, 230 kV, 138 kV, 115 kV and some 69 kV power lines and associated substations. There are three separate wide-area grids: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids. The Luzon grid operates at 69 kV to 500 kV, while the Visayas and Mindanao grids operate mostly at 138 kV, with a growing network of 230 kV power lines for bulk transmission. The grids and subgrids are interconnected by high-voltage direct current lines and submarine cables. 115 kV is used for transmission in Ilocos and 69 kV in poorer areas. Majority of these lines are operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Under certain conditions, some transmission lines are operated by power generating companies, distribution utilities, and electric cooperatives.
The sub-transmission networks operate with voltages of 69 kV and 115 kV. Lines are operated by NGCP, distribution utilities, and power generating companies.
The distribution networks generally operate at 7.62/13.2 kV, 8/13.8 kV or 20/34.5 kV, which is then downstepped to 230 V or 254/440 V for consumption. These are operated by electric cooperatives, investor-owned distribution utilities, and municipal power companies.
Structure tagging, and lands and portions acquisition and designation
Power line structures are usually tagged with reference numbers, voltage level code, abbreviation of starting and ending point of a power line or power line segment which can either be enclosed in a parenthesis or not and structure number m, or abbreviation of a line and reference number of a structure, which may be accompanied with and danger signs.
Since the 1990s, danger signs may also state the company that built the structures (including replacement structures), and acquired and designated lands for the transmission structures and their respective structure foundations or pedestals and portions of a power line. Reference numbers and danger signs that are placed on poles and towers are come in the form of stickers. Structures can also be tagged with reference numbers by using a paint. Some lines constructed by NAPOCOR/NPC did not have a danger sign but having only a reference number of a structure. Underground cables, however, are tagged with concrete tile covers that state the name of a company who acquired and designated lands and portions for the cables and placed the cables.
Some transmission lines or their segments have portions, lands and structures that were acquired, designated and built by a company who previously operated and maintained the power grid, while some by a company who currently operates and maintains the grid by the time of their acquisition, designation and construction, and this is because these were done through the transmission projects that were planned and started by the previous grid operator, and continued when the current grid operator started to operate and maintain the grid and finished by the current operator by the time of their completion thus these projects are both a project of the previous and current grid operator.
Guidelines
Power lines
Standard voltages for power lines, from highest to lowest, are as follows. Unless otherwise marked, voltages are for three-phase systems, measured between each live wire. Distribution lines have a fourth neutral wire connected to ground, and both line-to-neutral (for single-wire lines) and line-to-line (for two or three-wire lines) voltages are listed.
| Voltage | Standard voltage code | Network | Comments | Appearance | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kV | 9 | Transmission | Extra-high-voltage line voltage in Luzon and the highest operating voltage of the Philippine power grid since 1994. | Very tall lattice towers and steel poles (with the latter are rarely used) ranging from a height of 45–60 meters (148–197 ft). Lines use quadruple-bundle conductors. | ,_San_Manuel_jf673.jpg)  |
| 230 kV | 8 | Used on most transmission lines in Luzon, and as bulk transmission in Visayas and Mindanao. | Small to large double-circuit towers or poles, or single delta towers. Lines that run roadside or along railroads use steel poles. Structures usually 15–45 meters (49–148 ft)) high. |      | |
| 138 kV | 7 | Used on the Visayas and Mindanao grids. | |||
| 115 kV | 6 | Transmission/sub-transmission | Medium to tall poles, and H-frame towers. Lines in Ilocos primarily use conventional towers. Meralco primarily uses double-bundle conductor for upgrades and new lines. Few lines branching. |  | |
| 69 kV | 5 | Used for sub-transmission in the majority of the country. | Medium to tall poles, and H-frame towers. Lines may branch off to supply a large industrial customer or a distribution substation. Typical height and size of structures from 15–21 meters (49–69 ft) tall. |  | |
| 20/34.5 kV | 4 | Distribution | Mostly used for distribution by Meralco in most of its coverage area. Other distributors operating lines with this voltage are CEPALCO (in Cagayan de Oro), and LIMA Enerzone (at LIMA Technology Center in Lipa and Malvar, Batangas) | Medium-size poles, usually placed roadside. Multiple wires and circuits may not be obvious from imagery. Networks form large webs of lines with many branches that may carry one or two wires. Step-down transformers normally mounted on poles. Structures typically from 12–18 meters (39–59 ft), with taller poles used in major river crossings and smaller poles in narrow streets | |
| 25 kV single-phase | none | Railway electrification | International AC railway electrification voltage. No installations yet (proposed for Mindanao Railway and PNR South Long Haul upgrades). | ||
| 7.62/13.2 kV or 8/13.8 kV | 3 | Distribution | Predominant distribution voltage supplied by the majority of electric cooperatives. 8/13.8 kV is used by Meralco (in Northern Bulacan, southern Cavite, Batangas City and San Pascual) and most other private power utilities. | Medium-size poles, usually placed roadside. Multiple wires and circuits may not be obvious from imagery. Networks form large webs of lines with many branches ("laterals") that may carry one or two wires. Step-down transformers normally mounted on poles. | |
| 3.4/4.16 kV | 2 | Used by Meralco on older inner-city distribution networks in Manila. Most systems are being replaced by 34.5 kV facilities. | |||
| 1,500 V DC | Railway electrification | Railway electrification voltage, used on LRT Line 2. Future usage on North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and Metro Manila Subway. Used with overhead lines supported by poles. | 6–9-meter (20–30 ft) poles. Most existing installations do not use separate feeder wire. | ||
| 750 V DC | Railway electrification voltage, either used with overhead lines or third rail. Utilized by LRT Line 1, MRT Line 3 and the future MRT Line 7. | For overhead contact systems only: 6–7-meter (20–23 ft) poles or gantries. Most existing installations use separate feeder wire, except the LRT Line 1 from Baclaran to Monumento. | |||
| 127/220, 400, and 254/440 V | none | Distribution | Voltage supplied to large commercial/industrial consumers, and high-rise buildings. Supplied through a three-phase transformer (usually a set of two or three single-phase ones), a large ground-mounted transformer, or an indoor substation. | Wires usually connect directly to a single building. Rarely used for wide-area distribution. | |
| 230 V single-phase | none | Standard supply voltage for homes and small businesses and industries. Supplied from a single transformer connected to 1 or 2 wires of a primary distribution line. | 9–9.5-meter (30–31 ft) poles. Lines either use two wires (most common) or three (American-style split-phase, with 115/230 kV. Example would be those by Meralco). |
Some nonstandard voltages are the 13.2/23 kV for the Visayas Electric Company (VECO) distribution network in Cebu and 350 kV for HVDC Leyte–Luzon and the future Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection.
Most transmission lines have two circuits (6 wires), though there are also those with only one circuit (3 wires). Sub-transmission lines are often single-circuit, while distribution lines may have more that 2 circuits carried by the same poles or structures. This do not include the ground wire used for lightning protection.
Part of a distribution circuit can be fed from another substation, where one substation has to be shut down, or a line segment is being repaired. Transmission and sub-transmission lines are usually looped in most places.
Railway traction systems are fed from the distribution or sub-transmission grids. Overhead line systems may use feeders for more efficient power transmission, but this system is only used with the LRT Line 1 Roosevelt extension and the whole MRT Line 3. LRT Line 2 and the NSCR use a feeder system that combines the feeder wire with the messenger wire (the wire where the contact wire where trains collect power hangs from); the upper arm on the poles used with this system carrying lightning protection wires instead of the feeder.
Substations
Substation names are standard, and generally has the "Substation" suffix. substation=* depends on the voltages. If the higher voltage is 500 kV, 230 kV, or 138 kV, it's most likely to be substation=transmission. substation=distribution usually have an input voltage of 69 kV or 115 kV. No-name substation=minor_distribution fed by either 34.5, 23, 13.8, or 13.2 kV lines are commonly found in large buildings (e.g. malls, high-rises, college/university campuses) and supply 127/220 V or 254/440 V three-phase; otherwise, these are generally pole-mounted transformers.
Operators
See WikiProject Power networks/Philippines/Operators for guidance when tagging operators of any power line in the Philippines by region.
Tagging examples
Power lines mapped
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Power lines mapped
For a visualization of all power lines mapped in OSM, see OpenInfraMap.
Components of power lines
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Components of power lines
Number of towers that were painted with aluminum or zinc paint
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Number of towers that were painted with aluminum or zinc paint
Number of retired structures
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Number of retired structures
Power line references
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Power line references
Power line structures references
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Power line structures references
Abbreviation of substations and power plants
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Abbreviation of substations and power plants
Mapped transmission and subtransmission lines constructed by each companies
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Mapped transmission and subtransmission lines constructed by each companies
Power stations/substations mapped
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/Power stations/substations mapped
List of relocated or reused and retired structures
Main article: Power networks/Philippines/List of relocated or reused and retired structures
Statistics
- Amount of painted structures: 581 (steel poles), 259 (lattice towers), 2 (portal towers). Total: 842
- Amount of reused structures: 18
- Mapped power lines: 30 (NGCP), 1 (Meralco), 2 (BATELEC-I), 5 (BATELEC-II, including lines or line section divested from NGCP in 2011), 1 (LIMA Enerzone (LIMA Utilities), all from NGCP, originally commissioned by NAPOCOR). Total: 39