As electricity demand continues to rise, the conversation often turns to building more power plants. But in our episode of Power Podcast, Norman Roland E. Ocana III of Schneider Electric Philippines offered a different starting point—one that delivers impact immediately. For Ocana, energy efficiency is the country’s “first fuel.”

Rather than treating efficiency as a secondary measure, he argued that saving energy should be valued alongside power generation, especially in a system where new capacity takes years to build.

Why efficiency comes first

Ocana explained that while power plants are critical, they are not quick fixes. Planning, permitting, and construction can stretch over several years, leaving the grid under pressure in the meantime.

“Energy efficiency is the first fuel,” he said. “Because when you save energy today, that power is immediately available for others to use.”

Every kilowatt-hour saved reduces strain on the system, helping meet demand without waiting for new generation to come online. In this sense, efficiency functions like a virtual power plant—one that can be deployed now.

Using energy smarter, not less

A common misconception, Ocana noted, is that energy efficiency requires sacrifice. In reality, it is about using energy more intelligently.

“Efficiency is not about turning everything off,” he said. “It’s about optimizing how energy is used.”

From commercial buildings to factories and data centers, smarter systems can maintain comfort and productivity while consuming less power. Automation, controls, and energy management platforms help ensure energy is used only where and when it is needed.

Digitalization as an efficiency enabler

Technology plays a central role in unlocking efficiency gains. Ocana pointed to digitalization as a key enabler—allowing users to see, measure, and manage energy use in real time.

“If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” he said.

With data and analytics, inefficiencies become visible. Equipment can be adjusted automatically, losses can be corrected quickly, and performance can be optimized continuously. These tools, he noted, are no longer limited to large corporations and are becoming increasingly accessible across sectors.

The business case for saving power

Beyond technical benefits, Ocana emphasized the economic value of energy efficiency. Lower consumption leads directly to lower electricity bills, freeing up resources for other priorities.

“Energy efficiency makes business sense,” he said. “You reduce your operating costs while improving performance.”

For companies, this translates into stronger competitiveness. For the power system as a whole, it helps slow demand growth—reducing the need for costly infrastructure investments that ultimately affect consumer prices.

Supporting the energy transition

Ocana also linked efficiency to the broader energy transition. By reducing overall demand, efficiency makes it easier to integrate renewable energy and cut emissions.

“You cannot talk about sustainability without energy efficiency,” he said.

Efficiency lowers the baseline that renewables need to meet, helping stabilize the grid and support decarbonization goals without relying solely on new generation capacity.

A shared responsibility

While technology providers like Schneider Electric offer tools and solutions, Ocana stressed that efficiency requires collaboration. Government policies, industry adoption, and consumer behavior all play a role in turning efficiency into a national strategy.

“It’s a shared responsibility,” he said. “Everyone has a role to play.”

As the Philippines works to secure reliable and affordable power, energy efficiency offers a powerful reminder that the fastest gains often come not from producing more—but from using what we already have better.

How can treating energy efficiency as the “first fuel” reshape the way the Philippines plans its power future?

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You can catch the full episode over on our official Youtube channel!