The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is advancing the Philippine Grid Code (PGC) 2026 Edition to upgrade grid standards, strengthen system reliability, and support the integration of more renewable energy and emerging technologies into the transmission system.

The proposed code seeks to modernize the country’s transmission system through updated technical standards, stronger reliability mechanisms, and provisions for new technologies as the power mix continues to change.

“This is not just a technical update, it is a strategic reform that prepares our power system for the future,” ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan said.

Juan said the PGC 2026 Edition is designed to ensure that as more renewable energy and advanced technologies come into the system, the grid remains stable, reliable, and secure.

The proposed code includes technical provisions for battery energy storage systems (BESS), pumped-storage hydropower, compressed air energy storage, flywheel energy storage, wind power plants, solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, floating solar systems, and nuclear power facilities.

It also introduces new technical requirements for solar PV plants integrated with BESS using grid-forming (GFM) inverters, as well as other BESS installations using GFM inverter technologies.

In simple terms, GFM inverters help energy storage systems and certain power plants support grid stability, especially as more variable renewable energy enters the system.

Other key reforms include enhanced cybersecurity requirements, updated grid planning standards, expanded reserve and reliability mechanisms, Fast Frequency Reserve (FFR), GFM inverter standards, and advanced provisions for energy storage integration.

“We are seeing a fundamental shift in how electricity is generated and delivered. Our regulatory framework must evolve accordingly,” Juan said.

“Through the PGC 2026 Edition, we are building a grid that is not only resilient but also capable of supporting cleaner and more sustainable energy sources,” he added.

The draft code reflects nationwide consultations conducted in January 2026 across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with inputs from electric power industry stakeholders.

These inputs were consolidated in coordination with the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) and the Interim Grid Management Committee (iGMC) under the Energy Transition Project with the Energy Transition Partnership–United Nations Office for Project Services (ETP-UNOPS).

The ERC said stakeholder participation remains central to the process, citing its commitment to transparency and inclusive rule-making.

“These reforms are shaped through dialogue,” Juan said.

“We are engaging generation companies, transmission operators, distribution utilities, and industry experts to ensure that the Grid Code reflects both technical rigor and practical realities on the ground,” he added.

The commission will conduct public consultations on July 13, 15, and 17, 2026 to give stakeholders a platform to raise concerns, offer recommendations, and contribute to the finalization of the updated Grid Code.

The ERC said the PGC 2026 Edition aims to ensure that the Philippine grid remains responsive to technological advancements, aligned with international best practices, and capable of delivering reliable and secure electricity to Filipino consumers.

Can updated grid standards help the Philippines integrate more renewable energy while keeping the power system stable and secure?

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