The Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC EP) announced on March 16 that it has added seven megawatts to the electrical system in Santa Elena province, following an irreversible failure of a key autotransformer at the Santa Elena substation.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the Citizen Attention Center auditorium in Santa Elena. Officials from CELEC EP, the National Electricity Corporation (CNEL EP), and Governor Xavier Negrete outlined steps taken to restore normal electricity service after the incident. The measures were coordinated with the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the National Electricity Operator (CENACE).
According to CELEC EP, scheduled work was carried out between midnight and 4:00 a.m. on March 16 at the Santa Elena II Thermal Power Plant. This included energizing and operating a new 10-megavolt-ampere transformer, which has now entered service and contributed seven megawatts to the provincial grid. As a result, officials estimate that energy restriction times will be reduced by about 30 percent in affected areas.
In addition to this measure, authorities previously activated three generation units at Santa Elena III Thermal Power Plant, adding another 33 megawatts to the system. Private backup generation was also arranged, and ongoing coordination with CENACE aims to optimize operations and minimize impact on residents. Plans are underway to rent additional energy from local providers, with 21 more megawatts expected to be integrated into the grid through CNEL EP substations in Pechiche, Chanduy, and La Libertad in coming days.
As a long-term solution, CELEC EP is working on replacing the damaged autotransformer with a higher-capacity unit currently located at Pascuales Substation. Due to its size—over 200 tons—specialized logistics are being planned for its transport and installation.
While these efforts continue, CNEL EP will keep publishing updated schedules for planned outages on its website. The government said it is working as quickly as possible so that Santa Elena can return to normal electricity service.
