HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport Authority said it has to cut back on its participation in the Guam Power Authority’s interruptible load program because it is affecting airport operations.
“This is where we get off the grid and use our (generators) to help with lowering the load that Guam Power Authority needs to assist the rest of the island,” Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, airport deputy executive manager, told the airport board.
Since Typhoon Mawar, GPA has struggled with maintaining the power grid as a result of its aging power plants. To reduce the strain during peak hours, GPA has asked hotels and agencies such as the airport to help by reducing power consumption.
The airport’s participation has meant using its generators instead of the island power grid.
“We have been assisting, but this month the airport has advised GPA that participation may be less frequent because (of) the toll that has taken on our generators,” Hernandez reported. “We have to maintain our generators for the purpose that they are needed, really, so we’ve asked them to see if we can hold back just a little bit on that.”
Switching back and forth between the grid and generators has impacted other operational systems at the airport, Hernandez said, some of which are noticeable by those who go to the airport.
“The impact to the equipment include our biometric systems. So with the transfer back and forth from island power to generator we’ve been having impact to the equipment. Some would say the most visible one is the conveyor system, so our escalators, our elevators and our moving walks,” Hernandez said.
“But things you may not see is our biometric exit system, that we’ve just installed. Our security access system, our mule system or baggage scales. So when you weigh the bags with the fluctuating power, that impacts us as well. And it’s a requirement of us to make sure those properly runs,” he said.
The Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport is seen in Tamuning on Friday, July 7, 2023.
