Visayas power issues stem from dependence on other grids — DoE

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it is expecting power issues in the Visayas due to its dependence on other grids for supply.

In the course of preparing its three-year power outlook, the DoE flagged the Visayas as a problem area also due to the termination of some renewable energy (RE) contracts.

“For Luzon, there should enough power. It’s more in the  Visayas area. Because of the problem in Visayas, then Mindanao will be affected because they export power to Visayas,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin told reporters on Tuesday.

Regarding the terminated RE contracts, Ms. Garin said the service contracts were canceled due to the developers’ failure to deliver on their commitments.

Some of these projects were awarded through application and the previous green energy auction (GEA) rounds.

“Maybe had the projects come in for GEA-1 and GEA-2, then this would not even be an issue. So, projections for 2026, 2027, and 2028, basically show that we have to catch up because of the failure of the GEA winners to deliver,” Ms. Garin said.

The final energy outlook is awaiting adjustment and recalculation of forecasts and assumptions “but we’ll be ready within a month,” she said.

Among the aspects being reviewed are the scheduling of planned outages in order that they do not take place during the high-demand dry season.

“We’re rescheduling everything, coordinating also with the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) on that,” she said.

Ms. Garin said programs are in place to minimize the possibility of power rationing in the Visayas that will require blackouts.

“We have the LP (Interruptible Load Program), energy conservation efforts, rooftop solar programs. We’re adding also to our bunker reserves,” she said. “It’s just extra work but the DoE is working on it and assessing what we will be doing come summer 2026,” Ms. Garin said.

Last year, the DoE forecast a peak demand of 14,769 megawatts (MW) for Luzon, 3,111 MW for the Visayas, and 2,789 MW for Mindanao.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said that the projected peaks are expected to continue increasing.

“It will always increase. And the drivers are the same. Population, economic activity, and development, etc.,” NGCP Spokesperson Cynthia P. Alabanza said in a briefing on Wednesday.

Ms. Alabanza said the Grid Operating and Maintenance Program, which includes the proposed three-year maintenance outages of grid and system operations, has been approved by the DoE. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera