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The Department of Energy (DOE) has declared that all major power grids in the country are operating under normal conditions after the successful restoration of a key generating unit in the Visayas, ending nearly two months of recurring supply alerts and easing concerns over possible rotating brownouts in the region.
Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said the Luzon grid continues to operate normally, with electricity demand reaching 16,623 megawatts (MW), supported by sufficient available generation. The Visayas grid has likewise stabilized following the synchronization of Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) Unit 3, which restored 150 MW of generating capacity to the system.
Plant Restoration
Marasigan said PEDC Unit 3 initially attempted to reconnect to the grid on Wednesday morning but encountered minor technical issues. The unit was successfully synchronized at around 2:37 p.m. the same day and gradually increased its output, allowing the Visayas grid to return to normal operations.
Since the restoration, the Visayas has not experienced any yellow alerts, signaling that available generation has once again exceeded operating reserve requirements. The region had been placed under repeated yellow alerts for most of May and June due to thin power reserves.
DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said the return of PEDC Unit 3 significantly strengthened the Visayas’ operating reserves and reduced the risk of power interruptions affecting households, businesses, and industries.
“This is encouraging news for households, businesses, and industries across the Visayas and is a result of continuous coordination between the DOE and our energy partners,” Garin said.
Despite the improved situation, she noted that the department continues to work on restoring other major generating facilities to further reinforce supply reliability across the region.
Additional Reserves
The DOE said it is preparing for higher electricity demand driven by economic expansion and seasonal consumption by pursuing additional reserve capacity and clean energy projects in the Visayas.
Marasigan said the agency is coordinating with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and at least four private proponents to deploy alternative and cleaner energy technologies capable of providing immediate support during periods of tight supply.
The department plans to install backup power systems in Cebu, Panay, and Negros with a combined target of adding 270 MW of reserve capacity. At least half of the planned capacity is expected to be installed at the earliest possible time.
The DOE is also evaluating Bohol as a potential site for additional generation facilities to strengthen the island’s power supply and improve overall grid stability.
Although several major plants remain under scheduled maintenance, Garin said the Visayas continues to receive around 700 MW of imported electricity from Luzon and Mindanao through the country’s interconnected transmission network. Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2, each with a capacity of 169 MW, along with Kepco SPC Unit 1 in Cebu, are among the facilities still undergoing maintenance, with the Therma Visayas units expected to return to service by the end of August 2026.
With PEDC Unit 3 back online, dependable capacity in the Visayas, including imported electricity, now stands at 2,502 MW during daytime operations and 2,483 MW during the evening peak.
Tightened Oversight
Alongside efforts to improve supply reliability, the DOE is also stepping up regulatory enforcement against power generation companies that failed to comply with reporting requirements.
The department has issued 203 show-cause orders covering 174 on-grid and 29 off-grid power plants. DOE legal officer Gab Corpus clarified that the notices do not automatically indicate that the facilities are guilty of forced outages or recurring capacity derating. Instead, they were issued because the companies failed to submit their required annual self-assessment forms before the April 24, 2026 deadline.
Garin said around seven off-grid power plants did not respond to the DOE’s notices, while 114 of the 174 on-grid facilities also failed to submit explanations. The department will evaluate each case and determine the appropriate sanctions against operators that remain non-compliant.
Garin emphasized that while the restoration of generating capacity provides immediate relief, the government’s broader objective remains ensuring long-term energy security through continued investments in renewable energy, transmission infrastructure, and more resilient power systems.
“Our goal is not only to address today’s supply requirements but also to build a cleaner, stronger, and more resilient energy future,” she said.
Source:
https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2026/07/07/2540415/doe-major-power-grids-back-normal
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/6/doe-says-ph-power-grids-back-to-normal-1731
https://tribune.net.ph/2026/07/06/121-power-plants-risk-doe-sanctions-over-reporting-lapse