The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has lifted the suspension of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Bohol and Leyte-Samar after confirming stable grid conditions for 24 consecutive hours.

The spot market was shut down on October 1 after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu, caused a total blackout across both sub-grids. The ERC invoked its authority under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and ERC Resolution No. 12, Series of 2018, to suspend trading in times of severe system disruption.

In its order dated October 2, the Commission said conditions had normalized, allowing market activities to resume. The decision followed close monitoring by ERC’s Market Operations Service in coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP).

NGCP reported that the 138-kilovolt Ubay–Maasin Line 2 was energized at 4:01 A.M. on October 1, restoring Bohol’s link to the Visayas grid. The Leyte-Samar sub-grid was fully reconnected later that evening at 7:12 P.M. Both sub-grids remained synchronized to the grid until the following day, satisfying the technical conditions required for resumption.

As a result, WESM operations were reinstated in Bohol at 4:05 A.M. on October 2, and in Leyte-Samar at 7:15 P.M. the same day. The ERC directed IEMOP to notify market participants and NGCP of the resumption.

ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan said the move underscores the Commission’s commitment to maintaining stability in the Visayas grid. He added that the ERC will continue monitoring market integrity, ensuring compliance with trading rules, and protecting consumer interests in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The resumption of WESM operations is expected to restore normal trading in the affected sub-grids, helping balance supply and demand while supporting system reliability across the Visayas.

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