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DOE orders Generation Companies to restore capacity immediately amid Grid Alerts
Date published: May 14 2026 08:50 PM
MEDIA RELEASE
14 May 2026
DOE Orders Generation Companies to Restore Capacity Immediately Amid Grid Alerts
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin has directed all concerned generation companies to immediately resolve plant issues and return to full rated capacity as the Luzon and Visayas grids remain under yellow and red alerts resulting from plant derations, forced outages, and elevated electricity demand driven by seasonal weather conditions.
Following the National Grid of Corporation’s (NGCP) declaration today, the Visayas grid is under yellow alert from 3:00PM – 4:00 PM and 9:00PM – 11:00 PM while on red alert from 4:00PM – 9:00 PM with available capacity of 2,413MW against a projected peak demand of 2,541MW. Meanwhile, the Luzon grid is under yellow alert from 3:00PM – 4:00 PM and 10:00PM – 11:00 PM while on red alert from 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM with available capacity of 12,479MW against a projected peak demand of 12,595MW.
“The DOE’s top priority is to protect consumers and maintain grid stability. We have directed all concerned generation companies to expedite the restoration of affected units at the soonest possible time,” Secretary Garin said.
On the generation side, the DOE is closely tracking the restoration timeline of all affected units and has directed concerned companies to provide immediate updates on plant status.
Meanwhile, the DOE has issued an Advisory directing all Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Professionals of Government Entities to strictly implement and intensify energy efficiency and conservation measures across all public offices, buildings, and facilities—effective immediately. Government entities are directed to reduce non-essential electricity use, optimize building systems, and ensure full compliance with mandated energy efficiency standards, particularly during peak demand hours.
Secretary Garin emphasized that the public sector carries both the obligation and the capacity to make an immediate, measurable contribution to grid stability. A disciplined government response reduces demand pressure directly and sets the standard for the broader public.
The DOE encourages industries and households to practice simple and small energy conservation habits. Air conditioning units should be set at 24–25°C and no lower. Air conditioning is the single largest electricity load in most homes and commercial spaces, and every degree of upward adjustment reduces consumption meaningfully. Heavy appliances such as washing machines and electric water heaters should be shifted to early morning or late evening, outside of peak demand periods. Lights, electric fans, and all appliances not in active use should be switched off. These habits, practiced simultaneously across millions of households, produce an immediate and significant reduction in total system load.
Commercial establishments and building administrators are also requested to set centralized air conditioning systems within the 24–25°C recommended range, stagger the operation of high-load equipment during peak periods, and ensure all non-essential lighting and appliances are powered down outside business hours.
The Department has also called on concerned distribution utilities to activate their Interruptible Load Program to help stabilize supply conditions.
The DOE is in continuous coordination with the NGCP, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, distribution utilities, and all concerned generation companies to monitor grid conditions and implement all available supply-side and demand-side measures.
The DOE continues to closely monitor both grids and provide the public with information as the situation develops.###