Utilities Group Through its Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG), National Power continues to pursue its mandate to provide electricity in off-grid areas, particularly in areas where private investors hesitate to come in due to lack of infrastructure and political and security concerns. In 2008, National Power installed diesel power plants in the following areas: Cuyo, Palawan (500 kW); (2) Siasi, Sulu (1,000 kW); (3) Power Barge 109 in Tablas, Romblon (1,000 kW) and uprated 3 DPPs in Marinduque. It installed transmission lines in Occidental Mindoro and Catanduanes and completed four substation projects in Palawan and Catanduanes. The following year, NPC was able to install 12,718 kW of new capacities in 34 SPUG areas nationwide, from as far north as Cagayan down to Basilan and Sultan Kudarat in southern Philippines. It also constructed 154 diesel-fired mini grids in 102 barangays in Masbate under the Philippine Rural Electrification System (“PRES”) project; energizing 4,394 households in 46 barangays in Masbate, Camarines Sur, Cagayan, Antique and Guimaras by putting up 1,052 kW in new capacity. This was done in support of the DOE's Rural Area Electrification Subsidy (RAES) program which was aimed at providing basic electricity service in remote barangays through solar home systems, PV battery charging stations, micro-hydro, wind energy, diesel and hybrid facilities. In 2010, NPC was able to install only 6,528 kW in new capacity mainly because of serious budgetary constraints. But it was able to complete the PRES project in Masbate, with all of the 154 power plants and 5,219 solar home systems installed and in commercial operation. As a result, NPC was able to light up 18,000 homes in 128 barangays located in 14municipalities in Masbate. In 2011, NPC installed 4,365 kW in new capacity in Batanes, Western Samar, Basilan and Sultan Kudarat. In 2012, the company installed a total of 14,186 kW of new and augmentation capacities in 21 different power plants and areas nationwide. A 560 kW genset was added to Burias DPP in Masbate in September 2012. In October 2012, a 600 kW genset was also added to Casiguran DPP in Aurora and 2 x 500 kW genset at Viga DPP in Catanduanes. In Masbate, six new mini grids with an aggregate capacity of 420 kW started commercial operation in the second half of 2012. In Samar, households in five areas of three municipalities in Western Samar likewise enjoyed electricity for the first time starting May