DOE: Luzon grid power situation seen 'much better' in dry months of 2025

The Department of Energy (DOE) is expecting a much favorable power situation in the Luzon grid during the dry months of 2025 as compared to what transpired in the same period this year.

At the Media Power 102 Training Program on Wednesday in Taguig City, Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevarra said that Luzon will see the bulk of the incoming 4,000 megawatts (MW) additional power capacity.

“So for summer… we can see that 2025 summer will be much, much better than 2024,” Guevara said.

During the dry hot months - April until early June this year - enhanced by El Niño, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has so far raised 11 red alerts and 31 yellow alerts in the Luzon grid.

The NGCP raises yellow alerts when the operating margin falls below the necessary level to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

A red alert, meanwhile, indicates that the power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulatory requirements.

Red alerts prompt the grid operator to implement manual load dropping or rotational brownouts to maintain the integrity of the power grid.

“The year 2024 was a special year because of El Niño so that contributed to the high heat index during our summer [months],” Guevara said.

“Power situation in Luzon will be much better next year,” she said.

However, the DOE official said the agency has a gloomier outlook for the Visayas grid in the dry season months of next year.

“Special attention to the Visayas... we saw our graphs, especially in Bohol. You know Bohol’s normal load is 90 megawatts. But in May, it went to 130 megawatts. That's a 50% increase because of tourism,” Guevara said.

“So there are some areas that are still prone to potential congestion… So even if the generation is there, for certain areas, red alert is still possible,” she said.

During the dry months, eight red and 26 yellow alerts were hoisted over the Visayas grid.

As for the Mindanao grid, the DOE official said the power outlook is also much brighter next year as “its demand is only two-thirds of its supply.”

During the hot dry months of 2024, zero red alerts and only two yellow alerts were raised in the Mindanao grid. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News