Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Department of Energy (DOE) renewed calls for demand-side measures during the “Powering Through Uncertainty” webinar organized by Meralco for its enterprise customers, urging large power users to adopt energy efficiency practices and join the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East threaten to drive up fuel costs during the dry season.

The push comes as electricity demand is expected to rise with hotter weather, even as the government maintains that supply conditions in the Luzon grid remain stable.

“We can see that there are no expected alert levels in the Luzon Grid considering that all of the capacities will be available as expected and new power project investments will come online as expected or targeted,” said Noriel Christopher R. Reyes, Officer-in-Charge of the DOE Power Planning and Development Division-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau.

Despite sufficient supply outlook, officials acknowledged that global developments are exerting upward pressure on fuel prices, which could feed into electricity costs. In response, Meralco and the DOE are intensifying efforts to promote energy efficiency and conservation, particularly among commercial and industrial consumers.

Measures highlighted include optimizing cooling systems, improving operational efficiency, and adopting energy-efficient technologies. Businesses are also being encouraged to conduct energy audits to identify savings opportunities.

“How we consume energy is what we can control. Supply is outside of us,” said DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director IV Patrick Aquino. “For businesses, there are opportunities for you to do an energy audit or a spot check. Get a professional and go around to see the opportunities you have. Think of energy efficiency as an opportunity not as an obligation.”

Alongside efficiency measures, authorities are pushing for wider participation in the ILP, a voluntary program that allows large electricity users to temporarily reduce their load during periods of tight supply to help stabilize the grid.

“We continue to encourage enrolment because the program becomes more effective the more we have customers that can participate,” said Meralco Generation and Transmission Economics Lead Specialist Ma. Leticia L. Sapina. “For the benefit of the participants, the frequency of de-loading may be reduced if we can call on more customers. Within the ILP participant pool, we can also rotate who will be called to de-load.”

As of February 2026, 105 companies are enrolled in the ILP, providing a combined de-loading capacity of 513 megawatts. Meralco said it is stepping up engagement with more customers to expand this buffer.

Meralco said that since 2014, the program has helped prevent rotating outages affecting up to 3 million households, underscoring its role as a reliability mechanism during supply constraints.

 What’s your take? Are current demand-side programs enough to shield consumers and ensure grid stability this dry season?

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