ELECTRICAL GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION

AR BU 2 BUILDING UTILITIES 2

ELECTRIC GENERATION
(https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/delivery-to-consumers.php)

- defined as electricity generated from fossil fuels, nuclear power plants, hydro power plants
(excluding pumped storage), geothermal systems, solar panels, biofuels, wind, etc. It includes
electricity produced in electricity-only plants and in combined heat and power plants.
- main activity producer and autoproducer plants are included, where data are available. Main
activity producers generate electricity for sale to third parties as their primary activity.
• Autoproducers generate electricity wholly or partly for their own use as an activity supporting
their primary activity
• Both types of plants may be privately or publicly owned.
• indicator is measured in gigawatt hours and in percentage of total energy generation
How does electricity get to your home?
• Some utility companies generate all the energy they sell only using the power plants they own.
• others may purchase electricity directly from other utility companies, power marketers, and
independent power producers from a wholesale market organized by a regional transmission
reliability organization
•
The electricity delivery process
• Power plants generate electricity that is delivered to customers through transmission and
distribution power lines. High-voltage transmission lines, such as those that hang between tall
metal towers, carry electricity over long distances to meet customer needs. Higher voltage
electricity is more efficient and less expensive for long-distance electricity transmission. Lower
voltage electricity is safer for use in homes and businesses. Transformers at substations
increase (step up) or reduce (step down) voltages to adjust to the different stages of the journey
from the power plant on long-distance transmission lines to distribution lines that carry electricity
to homes and businesses.
Electricity is delivered to consumers through a complex network
• Electricity is generated at power plants and moves through a complex system, sometimes called
the grid, of electricity substations, transformers, and power lines that connect electricity
producers and consumers. Most local grids are interconnected for reliability and commercial
purposes, forming larger, more dependable networks that enhance the coordination and
planning of electricity supply.
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 ELECTRICAL GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION
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Service Drop
- overhead portion of service conductors extending from the nearest utility pole
Service Entrance Conductor
- portion of a service conductor extending from a service drop to the service equipment of a
building
SERVICE ENTRANCE
– the point of delivery of electricity to a building by a public utility company
Service Entrance•
Overhead service
Height: 3.60m Minimum 7.50m Maximum
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MAIN SWITCHBOARD
–bus bars terminates in the main switchboard and connects to the distribution panel boards by means
of feeder circuits protected by circuit breakers. The main switchboard serves for the control, protection
and metering of the main feeders.
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Feeder Circuit
- Conductors extending from the service equipment to various distribution points in a building;
extends from the main switchboard to a distributing center(panelboard)
Service Equipment
- Necessary for controlling, metering and protecting the electric power supply

PHILIPPINES- SOURCES (https://www.eia.gov/international/analysis/country/PHL)

The country produces oil, natural gas, and coal. Geothermal, hydropower, and other renewable
sources account for a significant share of electricity generation.
In 2019, total primary energy consumption in the Philippines was about 1.9 quadrillion British thermal
units (Btu). The largest share of total primary energy consumption was petroleum and other liquids
(45%), followed by coal (36%), natural gas (7%), non-hydropower renewables (7%), and
hydroelectricity (4%).

Petroleum and other liquids

According to the Oil & Gas Journal, the Philippines had 139 million barrels of proved crude oil,
including lease condensate, reserves in 2019.
Natural Gas
According to the Oil & Gas Journal, the Philippines holds 3.5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proved natural
gas reserves.
Malampaya, the deep-water gas-to-power project located in the West Philippine Sea near the Province
of Palawan, was launched in 2001 with a single offshore platform. An additional platform began
operating in 2015. The project in the Malampaya-Camago natural gas reservoir is operated by Shell
and is a joint venture between Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (45%), Chevron (45%), and state-
owned Philippine National Oil Corporation-Exploration Corporation (10%). Malampaya is critical to the
country’s energy needs and provides up to 20% of the country’s power.
The Philippines DOE projects that the Malampaya natural gas field will run dry by 2027. Imported
liquefied natural gas (LNG) will likely replace natural gas supplies from Malampaya.

Coal
Coal production in the Philippines increased for the fourth consecutive year. Production grew by 14%
to 16,832 million short tons (MMst) in 2019. Philippines-listed Semirara Mining and Power Corporation
(SMPC) is the primary coal producer in the Philippines and contributes to about 98% of total coal
production annually.
SMPC is also the only power supplier in the Philippines. The company’s subsidiaries include
Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation; St. Raphael Power Generation Corporation;
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Southeast Luzon Power Generation Corporation; Semirara Energy Utilities, Inc.; and SEM-Calaca
Power Corporation.
Philippine Electrical Wiring – Building our Philippine House

Wiring your Philippine house. Philippine electrical wiring. As

part of our project to build our house in the Philippines, we had
to learn about Philippine residential electrical systems. Here’s
what we’ve learned. As with our other writings, we do our best to
chronicle our missteps as well as our successes, so that our
readers get slice of reality about coming to the Philippines and
building a house, not a fairy tale. This is not a how-to guide, it’s
a description of our experiences.
Our pole-mounted meter. The wires on the left provide power to
the meter, the black load wire on the right goes back up the pole
and connects to the duplex utility feed or “drop” which connects
to the house wiring at the weather head.
From the standpoint of electrical engineering theory, the Philippine system is similar to that used in the
U.S. and Europe.
From the utility pole to the residence panel box we have one or two load wires and neutral conductor.
We have a ground (earth) provided by the homeowner. You can explore the technical details at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthing_system and various other sites.

However there are some big differences in materials and techniques between the USA, Europe, the
U.K. and the Philippines. Looking at how things were done when we built our Philippine house may
help other considering house building in the Philippines to get an idea how things are done here.

One final note. The Philippine electricians we have met have been quite professional. It’s best to hire
an electrical engineer to do your plan (you will need it for your building permit), and have good
electricians to do the work. Wage rates are negotiable and far more reasonable than in your home
country. We hope this essay will be of help in making you a more knowledgeable home builder.
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TYPES OF ELECTRICAL SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

There are two main types of residential electrical service in the Philippines.

MANILA AND CITIES: Three wire 120/240V Systems. In Manila, Iloilo City and other large Philippine
cities, residences are supplied with 240 volt, alternating current, 60 cycle power. Power from the utility
transformer to the residence arrives through three wires, two 120 VAC load (“hot”) wires and a single
neutral.
Circuits in the residence are generally wired to supply 240 VAC to outlets using the two 120 VAC load
wires, much the same as a heavy appliance (dryer, hot water heater etc.) would be supplied in the U.S.
All small and large appliances sold in the Philippines are designed to use 240 VAC, 60C.
However, it is possible to wire in 120 VAC circuits and outlets by using only one of the load wires and a
neutral. These 120 V outlets are seen in hotels, some condos and other places which expect
American visitors.
Visitors must keep in mind that the Philippines uses the same style of wall outlets as you see in
America, but that the outlet is supplying 240 V, not 120 V. Plugging a 120 V appliance into a 240 V
outlet will generally destroy the appliance.
It seems likely that the American-style 120 / 240 VAC 60 cycle used in Manila may have been the
result of the fact that electrical systems in Philippine cities were expanded during the American
occupation of the Philippines between 1899 and WWII. There may be areas around the big former
U.S. military bases (Clark and Subic) which are wired for 120 VAC service.

OUTSIDE OF BIG CITIES: Two wire 230V Systems Areas outside of the old established cities were
electrified later and use a different and more economical system using a two wire service drop to the
residence. This consists of one 230 VAC load wire and one neutral wire. 120 VAC cannot be supplied
by this type of system unless the property owner, at his own expense and with the cooperation of the
utility company, installs his own transformer at the utility pole, a transformer having a secondary
winding which can supply 120 VAC.
This is not impossible as many utility transformers are recycled from the U.S., but it is expensive and in
our view the 230 V systems are better unless the homeowner ships expensive appliances from the
U.S. It will be difficult to find parts and service for these imported 120 V appliances.
Much of the rest of the world runs on 220-240 VAC but 50 cycle rather than 60 cycle found in the
Philippines, creating a problem in importing some European appliances for use in the Philippines.
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What’s a smart meter?

• difference between one month’s reading and the next is the number of energy units that have
been used that billing period.
• provide two-way communication between you and your utility company, helping your utility
know about events such as blackouts
• allows the utility to maintain more reliable services and can be used with home energy
management systems such as web-based tools that your utility provides
NET METERING GUIDE IN THE PHILIPPINES
• Philippines enjoys a sizeable amount of sunshine. In fact, the country can harness the sun’s
power as its radiation across the country has a power generation potential of 4.5 to 5.5 kWh per
square meter per day.
• every on grid private household and company can utilize the power of the sun with solar panels
on their own roofs.

• An introduction of the Net-Metering scheme.

• The scheme represents the first step of a paradigm shift from the traditional generation-
transmission-distribution scheme towards individual and community based distributed on-site
power generation.

• The Net-Metering is the first non-fiscal incentive mechanism fully implemented under the
Renewable Energy (RE) Act of 2008.
• Through the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels up to 100 kW, house owners and
commercial establishments can now partly satisfy their electricity demand by themselves.
• Excess power generated from the solar PV installation will be delivered to the local distribution
grid of the electric distribution utility and will be used to offset the end-user’s electricity
consumption.
• In other words, end-users become “prosumers” or producers and consumers of electricity at the
same time. In effect, end-users are able to generate savings on their electricity bill and protect
themselves against rising electricity prices.
• end-users can help mitigate the effects of climate change through the use of clean energy
technologies. It will also contribute in lessening the country’s dependence on costly imported
fossil fuels.
• Department of Energy lauds the different RE stakeholders for coming together and publishing
the “Net-Metering Reference Guide: How to avail of solar roof tops and other renewables
below 100 KW in the Philippines.” Through this informative reference, the energy sector
supports the consumers who wish to invest in solar roof tops.
• It is with great confidence that this guidebook will help electric consumers make
informed decisions over the installation of solar roof top, and take advantage of the benefit of
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the net-metering scheme. The DOE is optimistic that soon enough thousands of roofs
nationwide will be fitted with solar installations and harness the unlimited, free energy from the
sun. As we all know, it’s more sun in the Philippines.