National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has warned that red and yellow power alerts remain a possibility—despite having over 10,000 megawatts (MW) of available transmission capacity.
While the numbers appear reassuring—6,573 MW allocated to Luzon, 2,281 MW to Visayas, and 1,406 MW to Mindanao—NGCP Spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza cautioned that supply security hinges on broader industry coordination, as reported by the Manila Bulletin.
“We need to prepare for the worst case. The worst case is we will see red and yellow alerts within the year,” she told reporters, underscoring that the timing and severity remain unpredictable. “When will they happen and to what extent or severity of these alerts are, we cannot say because that’s a discussion between us and the Department of Energy (DOE).“
One of the critical issues NGCP highlights is the distinction between transmission and generation responsibilities. Although the grid operator manages the physical delivery of electricity across the country, it does not produce power itself.
“The readiness of the NGCP on these matters is to make sure that the [transmission] lines will not go down simultaneously,” Alabanza stressed, noting that the corporation’s primary task is to maintain grid integrity and swiftly respond to any disruptions.
This clarification comes as public scrutiny intensifies following a yellow alert declared on the Luzon grid on March 5—the first for 2025. Though no brownouts occurred, the alert raised concerns about the grid’s ability to withstand surging demand as temperatures rise.
To mitigate potential disruptions, NGCP is doubling down on optimizing its operations and maintenance (O&M) strategies.
“The system operations have a plan as to where to divert potential transmission failures somewhere in the grid. So, there are many ways that NGCP can manage problems on the transmission side,” Alabanza explained.
But experts argue that while transmission upgrades are crucial, addressing generation shortfalls requires an industry-wide approach. According to Alabanza, discussions with power generators are already underway: “We had a meeting with the DOE and their emphasis was, that it has to be an industry-wide effort, which is why we will be meeting with the generators within the next week or so.”
As summer energy consumption rises, the challenge remains ensuring that power supply is not just available but also reliable. The ongoing dialogue between NGCP, the DOE, and power producers will be pivotal in shaping how the grid withstands seasonal demand spikes.
What do you think? Should the government enforce stricter measures to ensure power supply reliability, or does the industry need greater collaboration? Share your thoughts below!
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