NGCP to ensure reliable power transmission services for Eleksyon 2025

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) committed Wednesday to ensure the reliability of its power transmission operations in the coming May 2025 national and local elections.

NGCP operational management manager Engineer Hernan Austero said that the corporation is not just preparing its contingency measures for the summer peak, but also for the upcoming midterm polls.

He said that an Energy Task Force Election (ETFE) has been created, spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE). Members of this task force, he added, conduct regular meetings to discuss updates in the energy sector in relation to the elections.

“So we ensure that our transmission lines are well-maintained, including our transformers and other equipment in our substations. And of course, this is in coordination with the DOE,” Austero told reporters.

NGCP Central Grid Operations head Engineer Harvey Bernabe also said they will exhaust all available resources and at the same time secure the transmission lines and equipment all over the country come Election Day.

Earlier this month, the DOE said it activated the ETFE, which will play a “critical role in safeguarding the integrity and smooth conduct of the elections through strategic energy sector preparedness before, during, and after the electoral process.”

Even without the elections, Bernabe also said they also hold an annual simulation with stakeholders, including power generation and distribution firms, the DOE, and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), to prepare in case of a blackout, especially during the peak summer season.

“Although ayaw naman po natin mangyari na umabot tayo sa isang blackout scenario, ang gusto po natin, if ever that happens, alam po namin as NGCP and also the stakeholders... alam nila kung paano tayo magpo-proceed during blackout condition para mapabilis ‘yung process of restoration,” he added.

(Although we don't want to have a blackout scenario, if ever that happens, the NGCP and its stakeholders want to know how we will proceed during blackout conditions to speed up the process of restoration.)

Bernabe, citing the DOE, said they don’t expect any yellow or red alert instances for this year’s summer period, but emphasized that sufficient power supply by then is not yet guaranteed.

“We need to also take into consideration gaano ba ka-tama ‘yung magiging forecast natin when it comes to summer period. Possible kasi mas mababa siya, mas mataas. So number one natin ‘yung demand forecast, number two is the availability of generators,” he explained.

(We need to also take into consideration how accurate our forecast will be when it comes to the summer period. It's possible that it is lower or higher. We have to consider the demand forecast and the availability of generators.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.