The Department of Energy (DOE) has assured Luzon consumers that power supply will remain stable despite the scheduled shutdown of two major natural gas power plants over the weekend. However, the agency also warned that higher temperatures may drive up electricity demand, emphasizing the need for energy conservation.
In a statement released on Friday, the DOE called on the public to use electricity judiciously as South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC) and Excellent Energy Resources Inc. (EERI) temporarily halt operations.
The shutdown, set to begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 29, and end at 6:30 AM on Monday, March 31, is necessary to facilitate maintenance work at Linseed Field Corporation’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. This work is crucial for the completion of the country’s first onshore LNG storage tank, expected to be operational by the end of April.
Despite the temporary outage, DOE assured consumers that the impact on the grid has been minimized through coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
“The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) has initially assessed that there will be no expected yellow or red alerts during this period, although the event may temporarily push spot market prices upward,” the DOE said in its media release. A final assessment will be made once NGCP updates its Market Management System with the latest outage schedule.
Meralco also confirmed that power reserves for the weekend are projected to be sufficient. However, the power distributor remains on high alert and is prepared to activate its Interruptible Load Program (ILP) if necessary.
The DOE’s advisory coincides with a separate announcement from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regarding the onset of warmer conditions across the country, as reported by Philstar. On March 26, PAGASA declared the end of the northeast monsoon or amihan, forecasting a heat index of 27°C to 32°C for most parts of Luzon, with some areas reaching the “extreme caution” level of 33°C to 41°C between March 27 and 31.
Given these conditions, the DOE is urging the public to take energy conservation measures, particularly during peak hours.
The scheduled plant shutdown is part of broader efforts to enhance the country’s LNG infrastructure. Once the Linseed LNG terminal’s first onshore storage tank is completed, it is expected to improve supply reliability and help sustain the country’s energy transition. By 8:30 PM on Sunday, EERI is expected to reconnect to the grid, followed by SPPC Block 1 at 9:00 PM. Both plants will ramp up to a full capacity of 1,350 MW by 6:30 AM on Monday.
While the current transition to LNG is seen as a step toward improving energy security, industry observers have pointed out that planned outages—even if scheduled during low-demand periods—can still lead to price fluctuations. Consumers are advised to remain informed on how these developments may impact electricity rates in the coming months.
With the government urging energy conservation amid rising temperatures, how do you think consumers could be more proactive in managing electricity use? Share your thoughts!
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