The Philippines is moving closer to giving electricity consumers the power to choose their own suppliers, as the retail aggregation program under the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) gains traction.

According to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), a total of 20 aggregated groups have been registered as of June 2025, specifically 19 in Luzon and 1 in the Visayas. While Mindanao has yet to join, officials see this development as a strong indicator that consumer-level market participation is expanding.

Under the retail aggregation program, contestable customers, typically businesses like banks, resorts, and commercial establishments, can pool their electricity demand to negotiate better prices and services from retail electricity suppliers. IEMOP officials say this is a step toward a future where individual households may also gain access to supplier choice.

“Effectively, we are moving closer and closer to our ultimate goal,” Engr. Isidro E. Cacho Jr., Vice President for Trading Operations, said in a recent media briefing. “Even us, as end consumers, may eventually be able to choose our own electricity supply at a negotiated price.”

As of June 2025, retail energy transactions accounted for 24.37% of the total market, which is up from 22% in 2024. This increase in market share signals that more businesses are adopting the aggregation model and entering the contestable market.

Officials noted that achieving true consumer-level choice will require infrastructure upgrades, including automated metering systems and support from regulators like the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The timeline remains uncertain, but IEMOP expresses optimism that retail-level choice could become a reality.

The retail aggregation initiative is part of broader efforts to liberalize and modernize the Philippine energy market. It is aimed at lowering costs, enhancing competition, and improving service quality for electricity users.

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